Feb. 18, 2008

HANOVER, NH - The Pioneer fencing team won its first New England Intercollegiate weapon championship on Sunday at Dartmouth as the epee team of Sean McGeveren, Charles Thompson, Kyle Dee and Nate Quigley posted a 30-6 record on route to the title. The epee championship, coupled with fifth place foil and sixth place saber performances propelled the Sacred Heart mens fencing team to a fourth place overall performance in a field of 13 schools.

McGeveren and Thompson qualified qualified for the individual competition, where Sean McGeveren went undefeated in the final pool on route to the first ever individual championship for a Sacred Heart fencer in this tournament.

"Over the past three weeks Sean has really emerged as one of the elite epeeists in the East," commented head coach Dr. Tom Vrabel. "Early in the season he was pressing and trying too hard to carry the team. Once he relaxed and just let things happen he reverted to the form that earned him two Long Island High School Fencer of the Year awards. I am so happy for Sean's success. He has put himself in a great position for the NCAA Regional Qualifier in two weeks."

In addition to Sean and Charlie's individual accomplishments, Dan Convery-Zupan placed fifth and Jim Roberts twelfth in the individual competition.

"Dan continues to excell and Jimmy has really come on over the past two weeks," said Vrabel. "I expect Jim to build on his freshman success and be a top competitor in the region next season".

In saber, team captain Matt Laudicina qualified for the individual competition and finished twelfth.

The team will be back in action with four fencers competing at the NCAA Northeast Regionals at Vassar on March 2nd.