EVANSTON, Ill. -- After winning gold medals in all three weapons in each of the past three seasons, Northwestern will look to continue that trend Sunday, October 5 as it hosts the season-opening USA Fencing (USAF) Burton Open at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion.
The all-day event begins at approximately 7:45 a.m. with the mixed foil competition. The first women's event will be the epée competition at 9:15 a.m. Women's sabre follows at about 11:45 a.m. and women's foil is scheduled to take place at about 2:15 p.m.
At last year's Burton Open, Northwestern placed 19 fencers in the top across all three weapons, including the gold medalist in women's foil, Jen Yamin. Since 2011, 52 Wildcats have placed in the top 10 at the Burton Open.
Junior Kaitlyn Wallace and sophomore Mandeep Bhinder will lead NU in the epée competition. Helen Foster and newcomers Katie Van Riper and Anna Tolley are also entered in the talented field of 24.
Seven of the 18 fencers registered for the women's sabre event have are members of Northwestern's roster. 2014 NCAA qualifier Julia Abelsky and 2013 Burton Open runner-up Cindy Oh, both only sophomores, lead that group of 'Cats into the event. Another pair of second-year student-athletes, Emily Comstock and Ania Parzecki, are in the field along with three freshmen - Sacha Bazzal, Nika Shender and Emine Yucel.
The foilists will be the final group to represent the Purple and White on Sunday. In addition to Yamin, a 2013 NCAA qualifier, Northwestern will have 14 more competitors in the deep field of 39. Northwestern's four seniors, Sarah Bruhl, Katherine Kim, Mary Spohn and Tina Umanskiy will all be part of the mix in foil.
The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion is located at 2311 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208. Directions to the facility are as follows:
From Chicago or South Suburbs: Take either Lake Shore Drive (recommended) or I-90/94 (Dan Ryan to the Kennedy).
If you go the Lake Shore Drive route, Follow LSD until it ends and merges with Sheridan Road. Take Sheridan north through Evanston (follow the signs as Sheridan winds through south Evanston). Turn right on Lincoln Street at the north end of NU's campus. Follow Lincoln around a right-hand curve. The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center is on your left. To get to Lakeside Field, turn left at the stop sign just beyond the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center.
If you take the expressways, stay on the Kennedy until I-90 and 94 split. Take I-94 West (Edens) toward Milwaukee. Exit on Old Orchard Road and proceed east. Turn left on Gross Point Road and then turn right at the next light which is Central Street. Head east on Central approximately three miles to Sheridan Road. Turn right, then turn left at the next stop light, which is Lincoln. Follow Lincoln around a right-hand curve. The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center is on your left.
From the North: Take I-94 (Edens) East. Exit on Skokie Blvd. And turn left at stop light at Lake Avenue. Go east on Lake to Green Bay Road. Turn right and proceed south to Central Street. Turn left and go east approximately 1.5 miles to Sheridan Road. Turn right, then turn left at the next stop light, which is Lincoln. Follow Lincoln around a right-hand curve. The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center is on your left.
From Southwest Suburbs and O'Hare International Airport: Take I-294 North. Exit on Dempster Street east and proceed several miles until you reach I-94. Take I-94 West and exit and turn right on Old Orchard Road. Proceed east and turn left on Gross Point Road. Take the next right on Central Street and head east approximately three miles to Sheridan Road. Turn right, then turn left at the next stop light, which is Lincoln. Follow Lincoln around a right-hand curve. The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center is on your left.
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