Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
USFA Burton
Wildcats Sweep Gold Medals at 2008 USFA Burton
10/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Fencing
Oct. 5, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opened up the 2008-09 season on a high note as the Wildcats complete the sweep of the foil, eppe and saber divisions at the USFA Burton Oct. 4 at the Sports and Aquatic Center (SPAC). It marks the second-straight year NU has captured all the divisions.
The women's foil is typically the strength of the Northwestern team, and this year was no exception as the top eight finishers all wear purple. Senior Sam Nemecek ran the table through the field of 32, defending her 2007 Burton Open title by defeating freshman teammate Devynn Patterson in the finals. Meredith Baskies and Becky Groham tied for third with teammates Camille Provencal, Ariel Stein, Irisa Chen and Alexandra Arkin rounding out the top eight.
It was a French finish at the top of the women's epee as sisters Christa French and Kayley French finished one-two, reversing the order of the 2007 finish. The two ran through the 32-participant field before squaring off in the finals. Barbara Niklinska placed third for the Wildcats with Nicole Tilley (eighth) and Sarah Henning (10th) each posting top-10 finishes.
Women's saber completed the sweep for Northwestern as sophomore Elizabeth Sachs earned the gold medal by defeating teammate Jillian Mahen in the finals. It was another impressive showing for the Wildcat fencers as the `Cats dominated the top of the leaderboard with six fencers finishing in the top-10, including Whitney White (fifth), Annelise Eeman (sixth), Allison Keller (eighth) and Alexandra Taskier (10th).
Coming up for head coach Laurie Schiller's fencers is a homecoming event Friday, Oct. 17, at Patten Gymnasium, beginning at 7 p.m. The Wildcats then prepare to host the USFA Remenyik Open on Oct. 25-26 at SPAC.
