Fencing Begins the Season with Nine Finalists at the Temple Open

Saturday, October 28

Liacouras Center

All Day

Temple University

Temple Open

Photo by: Nguyen Ho

Fencing Begins the Season with Nine Finalists at the Temple Open

10.28.17 | Women's Fencing

Full Results Meet Program Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - Nine finalists highlighted a strong first meet of the season for Temple fencing at its own 38th annual Temple Open on Saturday. Two Owls, both freshmen, were runners-up in their respective events.

Meet Results
> Of the Owls' 16 fencers, nine were finalists at the meet.
> It was a strong day for Temple freshmen, with Kari Weiner taking second in foil and Eva Hinds taking second in sabre.
> Junior Quinn Duwelius earned her best-ever Temple Open finish, advancing to the semifinals and tying for third in epee.
> For a second year in a row, sophomore Kerry Plunkett tied for third in sabre.
> Close behind Plunkett was junior Jessica Rockford, who placed fifth in sabre.
> Senior Safa Ibrahim and sophomore Camille Simmons finished seventh and eighth in epee, respectively.
> Sophomore Kennedy Lovelace was a finalist in foil for a second year in a row, placing sixth.

Quotable
> "The second half of the tournament had very good strength, and I think we were really tested," said head coach Dr. Nikki Franke. "It's unfortunate some of the girls had to meet each other in the sabre quarterfinals, but all in all, I'm pleased with the improvement that I'm seeing in their fencing. Now they just have to get competition ready. This was a really good start to that, especially for the freshmen to get that first collegiate meet under their belt. Now we see as coaches some of the things we want to focus on in the next couple of weeks."

> "It just speaks not just to their talent, but to their hard work and their focus," said Franke on the results of Weiner and Hinds, in particular. "They were able to overcome those early nerves."

> "It went really well today," said assistant coach/sabre coach Josh Herring. "It showed how much we've been working and the impact of our new additions to the team and of our new training space. Everything is just starting to come together for us at the beginning of the season. There's a lot the girls themselves have identified that they want to work on, but it's definitely a good start."

> "The freshmen did a really great job. For Eva getting into the final in her first Temple Open is amazing. She's been limited in practice as a newcomer but she's been able to really make it count. Quinn also had a great day and showed all the work she's been putting in over the years. Everyone performed I think above their expectations and in some cases above ours as well."

Temple Results
Foil (62 fencers)
Kari Weiner, 2nd
Kennedy Lovelace, 6th
Megan Ross, t-11th
Allison Pierok, 14th
Auset Muhammad, 17th

Epee (79 fencers)
Quinn Duwelius, t-3rd
Safa Ibrahim, 7th
Camille Simmons, 8th
Ally Micek, 12th
Marielle Luke, 14th
Fiona Fong, 31st

Sabre (56 fencers)
Eva Hinds, 2nd
Kerry Plunkett, t-3rd
Jessica Rockford, 5th
Malia Hee, 8th
Blessing Olaode, t-22nd