Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
NCAA Midwest Regional
Five Wildcats Finish Among Top Five at NCAA Midwest Regional
3/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Fencing
March 13, 2010
2010 NCAA Midwest Regional Results
2009-10 Northwestern Fencing Statistics 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Serving as the host school for the 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional, third-ranked Northwestern had an impressive showing on its home strips as five Wildcats placed among the top-five in their respective weapons, including runner-up finishes from senior epeeist Kayley French (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and sophomore foilist Devynn Patterson (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt).
Northwestern, serving as the regional's host institution for the first time, was looking for solid performances in each weapon at the Sports and Aquatic Center (SPAC). French obliged, posting an 8-3 record on the day en route to the runner up finish in the epee. She finished one place ahead of sister Christa French (Southlake, Texas/Carroll), who also finished 8-3 on the day and looked to earn a bid to her fourth-straight NCAA Championship. Freshman Karalina Collins (Houston, Texas/Waltrip) was also impressive in her first career regional, finishing with a 7-5 mark and placing fourth.
Fellow freshman Kate Cavanaugh (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) just missed a top-five finish, placing sixth in the epee with a 6-5 mark on the day. Senior Joanna Niklinska (Granger, Ind./Penn) closed out her Northwestern career with a 13th-place finish after going 4-4 on the SPAC strips.
Patterson, who qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman, looked to notch her second trip to nationals and seems poised to do so after her runner-up finish in the foil. Patterson, who was 3-3 after pool play, rallied late to finish with a 7-5 record. Freshman Dayana Sarkisova (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) had the best individual mark of the day for the Wildcats, posting an 8-2 record while notching a fifth-place finish in her first career regional. Sophomore Camille Provencal (St. Paul, Minn./Central) went 5-4 on the day, placing ninth.
Team captain Whitney White (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) was looking to close out her final home meet with a strong showing and just missed a top-five finish, placing sixth in the women's sabre with a 7-5 record. She finished one spot better than freshman Alicia Gurrieri (Medford, N.J./Moorestown Friends) , who checked in at seventh with a 5-6 mark. Senior Allie Keller (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) closed out her Northwestern career with an 11th-place regional finish after going 3-6 on the afternoon.
Head coach Laurie Schiller and his Wildcats will now have to sit and wait until Tuesday morning when the qualifiers for the 2010 NCAA Championships are announced. Those that do qualify will head to Cambridge, Mass., for the national tournament beginning Thursday, March 25 and running through Sunday, March 28.
The 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional resumes at 9 a.m. Sunday morning when the men take to the strips at SPAC. Results will be posted when they become available at Nusports.com.
