Feb. 10, 2008

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Bulldogs traveled to Princeton, N.J. for the conclusion of the Ivy League Fencing Championships, Sunday. They fell to the host Tigers and to Columbia, bringing their Ivy League dual meet record to 1-4. Next up for the Elis are the IFA Championships to be held in New York, N.Y. on Feb. 24.

Against Princeton, Yale fenced to a closely fought 15-12 defeat. The foil squad continued to show why it's one of the best in the Ivy League, as the young threesome of freshman Nathaniel Botwinick and sophomores John Gurrieri and Andrew Holbrook won, 7-2. Botwinick compiled a perfect 3-0 mark. He will travel to Charlotte, N.C., for the Junior Olympics beginning Feb. 15.

The epee squad fell to Princeton's, 5-4. Junior Michael Pearce continued his impressive Ivy League run, winning two of three bouts and likely positioning himself for a first team All-Ivy selection. Pearce compiled a 10-2 (.833) mark over the two days of Ivy League competition.

The sabre squad lost, 8-1. Sophomore Sebastian Cano-Besquet pulled home the only Yale victory.

Later in the day, the Bulldogs lost to perennial powerhouse Columbia, 22-5. The foil squad presented the biggest challenge to the Lions but was ultimately defeated, 6-2. Again the rookie Botwinick led the way; he claimed two of three bouts. The epeeists lost, 7-2, while the saberists fell, 9-0.

Columbia (6-0) claimed the Ivy League title.

With the two losses, the Bulldogs end their dual-meet season with a 7-9 record and fifth in the Ivy League. The team's postseason tournament schedule begins on Feb. 24 with the IFA Championships, when the foilists will look to assert themselves and improve on last year's 3rd place squad finish.

Report filed by Nicholas Thorne '08, Yale Sports Publicity