Fencing Finishes Third at NCAAs

After winning the NCAA Championship the last two seasons, Columbia fencing fell short in 2017–18, finishing third behind Notre Dame and Ohio State at the NCAA Fencing Championships in Indianapolis March 23–26.

Coach Michael Aufrichtig took the result in stride, saying, “third place is a good way to remind us that [winning the championship] isn’t easy and you do have to work very hard. I am sure we will come back next season with that thought.”

Margaret Lu ’17 was the top individual finisher in women’s foil with a 21–2 overall record but lost to Ohio State’s Alanna Goldie, 15–13, in the semifinals and came away with a bronze medal. In her first NCAA Championships, Iman Blow ’20 went 19–4 in women’s foil, good for sixth place.

On the men’s side, foil also was Columbia’s strongest weapon as Nolen Scruggs ’19 compiled a 17–6 record and won a silver medal.