INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA Women's Fencing Committee announced the competitors who will participate in the 2005 National Collegiate Women's Fencing Championships. Junior foil fencer Jenna Remmert was the solo fencer selected from Temple. Remmert joins a field of 144 competitors who will travel to Houston, Texas for the NCAA Championship hosted by Rice University and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.

Senior Jeanne Browne will serve as first alternate in women's foil for the Mid-Atlantic South Region and freshman Brianna Ferrara will serve as the first alternate for women's epee for the region.

The selections cap off a strong season filled with accomplishments for the Temple women's fencing team. The Owls completed the season with an impressive overall team record of 17-8 and a national ranking of ninth.

The Cherry and White won three consecutive tournaments this season, including an 8-2 victory at the Northwestern Multi Meet in January. They went undefeated (5-0) at the Johns Hopkins Tournament and won at their home quad-meet (3-0) in February.

Tough competition was familiar to this team. The Owls consistently fenced other nationally ranked colleges and universities which included #3 Penn State, #6 Northwestern, #8 Princeton, #7 Pennsylvania, #10 St. Johns, and #5 Columbia.

The Owls became the 2005 National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association Champions on February 26. Coach Nikki Franke said, "I am very pleased with the team's results and effort." Franke was further impressed when three foil fencers (Jenna Remmert, Jeanne Browne, and Maryanne Forsythe) and one epee fencer (Brianna Ferrara) advanced to the finals as well as one sabre fencer (Nnenna Okoro) to the semi-finals at the NCAA Regionals on March 5.  

Coach Franke says this young team will only get stronger next year. Twelve fencers will return to the squad for competition next season.