COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eleven Northwestern fencers competed against elite competition this weekend at the January iteration of the North American Cup in Columbus, Ohio, highlighted by freshman Pauline Hamilton's bronze medal.
The NAC featured individual weapon group competitions with over 100 of the top fencers in the country facing off in each group. The events were comprised of a combination of round-robin pool stages and direct elimination rounds.
Hamilton continued her breakout first season with a third place finish in junior women's epee with five knockout round wins and four pool stage wins. Sophomore Ella Lombard also collected four pool wins in the same event.
In the senior epee competition, junior Katie Van Riper paced the Wildcats with an 8-6 record, after qualifying through two pools and a knockout round to make the final draw of 64 in an event with over 160 fencers. Lombard made it through the first pool stage with four wins, and Hamilton notched two wins after qualifying into the second pool stage.
Six fencers represented the Wildcats in the senior foil competition, with both sophomore Yvonne Chart and freshman Amy Jia picking up knockout round wins and finishing in the top 64. Senior Stephanie Chan and sophomore Sharon Chen qualified for the knockout rounds, while junior Lucia Procopio and Junior Michelle Lee also competed.
Jia also participated in the junior women's foil event, and picked two wins in the knockout round along with three more in her pool state.
In the senior women's sabre event, junior Sacha Bazzal and junior Emine Yucel both qualified for the knockout round after strong showings in group bouts.
Northwestern returns to dual meet action on Jan. 15, when it travels to Pasadena, Calif. for the Western Duals.
The NAC featured individual weapon group competitions with over 100 of the top fencers in the country facing off in each group. The events were comprised of a combination of round-robin pool stages and direct elimination rounds.
Hamilton continued her breakout first season with a third place finish in junior women's epee with five knockout round wins and four pool stage wins. Sophomore Ella Lombard also collected four pool wins in the same event.
In the senior epee competition, junior Katie Van Riper paced the Wildcats with an 8-6 record, after qualifying through two pools and a knockout round to make the final draw of 64 in an event with over 160 fencers. Lombard made it through the first pool stage with four wins, and Hamilton notched two wins after qualifying into the second pool stage.
Six fencers represented the Wildcats in the senior foil competition, with both sophomore Yvonne Chart and freshman Amy Jia picking up knockout round wins and finishing in the top 64. Senior Stephanie Chan and sophomore Sharon Chen qualified for the knockout rounds, while junior Lucia Procopio and Junior Michelle Lee also competed.
Jia also participated in the junior women's foil event, and picked two wins in the knockout round along with three more in her pool state.
In the senior women's sabre event, junior Sacha Bazzal and junior Emine Yucel both qualified for the knockout round after strong showings in group bouts.
Northwestern returns to dual meet action on Jan. 15, when it travels to Pasadena, Calif. for the Western Duals.