The women’s fencing team participated in the Fairleigh Dickinson University Invitational on Sunday in Teaneck, New Jersey, sweeping the competition with wins against host FDU (16-11), Yeshiva University (20-5), Hunter College (15-11) and the City College of New York (21-6).
Senior sabre Brooke Lippe put together an undefeated record of 12-0 in her bouts. Close behind Lippe were four 11-1 performers in junior sabre Allison Ramsay, freshman foil Zoe Lenz, senior foil Zoe O’Connor and freshman foil Nina Qiu.
O’Connor said that the Leopards anticipated having a competitive advantage but had to keep the mindset to not let up.
“Don’t underestimate the other teams, but also don’t underestimate yourself and your abilities,” O’Connor said. “We are a strong team, and we should not think that we’re gonna win right off the bat, but also have confidence in our ability to win.”
Playing with that confidence, the Maroon and White dominated despite being down freshman epee Hilla Wetherill, who was participating in a World Cup event.
“It gave me a good opportunity to fence new people and try out things that I am less confident in,” O’Connor said. “I did a fleche, I did a toe touch, things that I don’t normally try out.”
Each fencer participates in three bouts per match, so down two players, the Leopards had already given their opponents six points of the 14 needed to win.
“You have to be really on top of your game,” senior foil Anna Silver said.
The Maroon and White accomplished just that.
“I’m always like, take it one touch at a time,” Lippe said of her mindset. “Just think about getting the first touch and then go on.”
In addition to the 12-0 and 11-1 finishers, sophomore epee Makenna McCall tallied nine wins and Silver added seven.
The Maroon and White went 72-12 overall, led by the sabre team going 23-1, the foil team with a 29-7 record and the epee squad at 20-4.
The women’s team has only a couple more meets before taking on regionals.
“Some easier things we could get away with this past weekend we won’t be able to in the coming weeks,” Silver said.
The women’s team is off this upcoming weekend but will return to action on Feb. 23 at the Long Island Invitational.
Disclaimer: News Editor Makenna McCall ’27 is a member of the fencing team. She did not contribute writing or reporting.