March 16, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Bulldogs finished 16th this weekend at the 2008 NCAA Fencing Championships. Four Yale fencers traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the year end event. A pair of Bulldog men finished 13th -- sophomore John Gurrieri in foil and junior Michael Pearce in epee. Sophomore Lidia Gocheva was 23rd in women's foil. Freshman foilist, Nathaniel Botwinick, was the fourth Bulldog competitor. He took 20th.

Yale's fencers accrued 35 total points in their 16th place effort.

Gurrieri had 11 wins and scored 84 touches. He and Botwinick, who notched eight victories and 70 touches, earned 19 points for the team.

In the men's epee, Pearce had 12 wins, with 90 touches and a +6 indicator. The San Francisco, Calif. native scored 12 points for the team. Gurrieri and Pearce both improved on their 2007 NCAA Championships performances.

Gocheva pitched in four points to the Yale total.

Ohio State won the tournament with 185 points.