Feb. 18, 2008
HOBOKEN, NJ - The Johns Hopkins women's fencing team competed at the Eastern Women's Fencing Championships for the first time this season. Two Blue Jays earned All-EWFC honors in addition to the team earning the Roi Green Memorial Team Spirit Award.
Roi Green, who was the CCNY coach for 30 years, was respected by his colleagues and loved by his fencers. In addition to fielding very competitive teams, he was a leader in creating fencing programs in Harlem and other New York City neighborhoods. In his memory, the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference as inaugurated the Roi Green Memorial Spirit Award. Johns Hopkins was honored as the first recipient.
Leading the way for Hopkins was freshman Sofia de Benedictis (London, England/Chelteham Ladies' College) who placed fifth in the Foil to earn First Team All-EWFC honors. She won 12 of her 18 bouts. Also competing in the Foil was freshman Michelle Gulino (Brooklyn, NY/Convent of the Sacred Heart), who finished in 16th with four wins.
"Most of our competitors were freshmen, many of whom like Rose Foran were beginners in September," said head coach James Murray. "This event allowed our "B" squad fencers to cap off their seasons with 20 bouts each in a tournament setting."
In the Sabre, freshman Rose Foran (Los Angeles, CA) took seventh place, earning Second Team All-NWFC honors with 10 wins. Classmate Adiya Katseff (Manalapan, NJ/Freehold) finished in 11th place with seven wins. And in the Epee, the top Blue Jay finisher was sophomore Ying Guo (Fargo, ND/Fargo South), who placed 15th with four wins. Also placing were freshmen Brooke Katz (Woodbury, NJ) and Aliza Fishbein (Potomac, MD/Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School). Katz finished in 17th while Fishbein finished in 19th.
Hopkins will now take the week to prepare for the 80th annual National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Championships. Hunter College will serve as the host for this year's championship, scheduled for Saturday, February 23 in New York, NY. Hopkins finished second last year, behind Temple, in the combined weapons. The Blue Jays also took home the West Point and Division III trophies. The Blue Jays finished second in both the Foil and the Sabre, while placing seventh in the Epee.
