Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, February 25
Columbus, Ohio
All Day
Northwestern
vs
Midwest Conference Championships
Wildcats Seek Back-to-Back Conference Titles
2/24/2017 12:11:00 PM | Women's Fencing
by Amit Mallik, NUsports.com contributor
The No. 8 ranked Wildcats travel to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend to kick off the postseason at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships in search of back-to-back titles.Last year's conference crown was the first since 2001 and the fourth overall in program history. Former head coach Laurie Schiller won in his final year at the helm to end a storied career, in which he amassed over 1,250 career wins.
First year head coach Zach Moss has taken on the task of trying to go back-to-back for the third time in program history and the first time since a three-peat from 1999 to 2001.
"Considering that last year was our first championship in 15 years, I think winning it again this year would certainly be special," Moss said. "Especially considering how much change our team has gone through this year with a whole new staff and with 11 graduating seniors."
Moss admits that his team has had its ups and downs through dual meets this year and is constantly looking for improvement and consistency. Despite the relatively chaotic nature of the season, Moss' team is still ranked No. 8 nationally and at one point reeled off 18 wins in a row.
That success has started with the senior class, which makes up over a third of the team. The 11 seniors have combined for 1,345 total wins and is led by a trio of talented sabre fencers. Cindy Oh, Julia Abelsky and captain Alisha Gomez-Shah all rank in the top ten for career wins in sabre in program history and collectively have won 619 bouts.
Mandeep Bhinder and Stephanie Chan have also been standout seniors with over 150 wins in each of their careers in epee and foil, respectively.
The two-day MFCs start with individual weapon group competitions on Saturday before team based competition on Sunday. Last year in the individual sabre competition, Gomez-Shah and Oh finished in first and second place in that order. Bhinder and sophomore Yvonne Chart also had top-three finishes in epee and foil, respectively.
"I would love to see a Wildcat in that first spot again," Gomez-Shah said. " I'm really focusing on helping the team and sabre get in the best possible position for the team event on Sunday."
Moss echoed the sentiment and said he believes his team has a number of potential contenders for the individual championships.
As for Sunday, the main obstacle in the Wildcats' way is the host, Ohio State. The sixth-ranked Buckeyes are the other powerhouse in the MFC and are looking to to reclaim the title after winning in 2015. Last season, Northwestern just edged the Buckeyes 785-780 in the final tally after winning the team epee and sabre competitions.
The two squads have split the season series in dual meets. Ohio State prevailed 16-11 at the Elite Invitational in the first weekend of the season while Northwestern won 19-8 at the NU Duals at the beginning of February.
"We know that Ohio State and the other squads are out on the prowl to get us," Gomez-Shah said. "I strongly believe that when we are able to zero in and fence hard for every touch we'll be able to reach our goals as a team."
Moss said that the postseason is an opportunity to test the effort his team has put in all year. With the NCAA Midwest Regionals and National Championships coming up, the key is to trust all the work that got his team to this point.
"[The key is] investment in the process, in each other, and in themselves," Moss said. "Everyone has a role and responsibility to contribute to the team's energy and focus."
The Wildcats hope that trusting the process can bring them home back-to-back titles in a potentially historic weekend for the program and a special group of seniors.
Follow the #B1GCats quest for repeat glory on Twitter and Instagram at @NUWFencing.
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