Northwestern University Athletics
Sixth-Ranked Wildcats Host Northwestern Duals This Weekend
1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Fencing
Jan. 29, 2009
Northwestern Duals Release/Schedule 
Wildcats Host Second Installment of NU Duals
Northwestern hosts its final event of the 2008-09 season as the Wildcats welcome 11 schools to Evanston to compete in the NU Duals Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Sports and Aquatic Center (SPAC). The sixth-ranked `Cats host top-ranked Penn State, second-ranked Notre Dame, third-ranked Ohio State and eighth-ranked Temple, along with Cleveland State, Detroit-Mercy, Fairleigh Dickinson, Johns Hopkins, Lawrence, North Carolina and Wayne State in the duals as both men's and women's teams will be in action. Competition begins at 8 a.m. each day with each round schedule to last 45 minutes to an hour. It also marks the Chipotle Big Match of the year for the fencing team, giving fans the chance to win a variety of prizes.
Seniors To Be Honored Prior to Start of Duals
Prior to the beginning of competition Saturday morning, Northwestern will recognize its three seniors before the final home event of the season. Sam Nemecek, Megan Ross and Adrienne Shon have played significant roles in each of their four seasons in Evanston. All three will finish their Wildcat careers with over 100 career victories, with Nemecek already ranking third all-time in wins (361) and second in winning percentage (.855).
Olympians at this Weekend's Duals
Along with some of the top collegiate fencing talent on display this weekend, spectators will also get a chance to meet some Olympians from the Beijing Games. Hannah Thompson, a silver medalist on the women's foil team, will serve as a referee while Doris Wilmette, an alternate on the same foil team, will compete for Penn State. Douglas Findlay, a U.S. official at the Olympics, will also serve as a referee this weekend.
Wildcats Ranked Sixth in Coaches Poll
Northwestern earned the number six ranking in the first USFCA College Fencing Coaches Poll released last week. Penn State earned the top spot, followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Columbia and Harvard. Princeton, Temple, Pennsylvania and Duke round out the top-10.
Northwestern Season Recap
The 2008-09 season has been another successful one to date for the Wildcats, having posted an 18-3 record to date. NU began the season with a perfect 10-0 performance at the first installment of the NU Duals on Nov. 15, then followed that up with a 5-0 performance at the Penn Invitational on Jan. 10. The `Cats posted a 3-3 record this past weekend at the NYU Invitational, upping head coach Laurie Schiller's career record to 973-408 as he continues to inch closer to the prestigious 1,000-victory club.
For the complete release, including the NU Duals schedule, click on the PDF link above.
