Northwestern University Athletics
Three Wildcats Earn All-America Status at NCAA Fencing Championships
3/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Fencing
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern wrapped up its two-day stint at the NCAA Fencing Championships at Ohio State Sunday by earning a 16th-consecutive top-10 finish with three Wildcats securing All-America honors in the season's final collegiate meet.
As a team, the 'Cats collected 60 points (one per individual victory) during the two-day round-robin tournament. Northwestern finished seventh among women's teams ensuring a top-10 finish for the 16th year in a row. It was also the best team placement for the program since 2009. The Wildcats wound up 11th overall, tops amongst programs with entries in three weapons or fewer.
All three weapons began day two at 8 a.m. with sabre the first to finish. Sophomore Cindy Oh had an impressive showing on the final day of her first NCAA Championship meet by winning five of eight bouts to secure a 10th-place finish. Oh concluded the tournament with 12 wins and an indicator of +3. Classmate Alisha Gomez-Shah sat in fifth place in the standings as the day began, but she struggled to find a rhythm Sunday and was only able to find victory one time. Still, the Wayne, N.J., native collected 12 victories (+2), which was strong enough to earn All-America recognition and a 12th-place finish.
The second group to finish the round-robin tournament was women's epée. Northwestern junior Juliana Barrett finished second on day one with 11 victories and she added two more on the second day to finish her first NCAA Championship with a 10th-place finish.
Helen Foster, also participating in her first NCAA Championship, won seven bouts after claiming the bronze medal at the NCAA Midwest Regional at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion in Evanston earlier this month.
Jen Yamin fenced the nation's best in Columbus for a second year in a row and she improved upon her finish in 2014 by placing 15th this time around. The junior netted won 10 bouts (-9) over the weekend. Sophomore Stephanie Chan, one of four first-time qualifiers in NU's contingent, won six bouts at the French Field House.
Under the direction of Schiller, Wildcat fencers have earned 33 All-America honors since 1998. This year marks the fifth time that three fencers have earned the prestigious status. The three All-Americans are the most for a Laurie Schiller coached team since 2008.
