STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - For a second straight year the University of Pennsylvania fencing team took eighth place at the NCAA Championships to wrap up their season. The Quakers finished with a total of 101 points and had five athletes -- three men, two women -- earn All-American recognition.
Willie Upbin led the way as he finished sixth in men's foil.
Unlike other events during the year, the men and women's results are combined at the NCAA Championships, with the women fencing on Thursday and Friday and the men Saturday and Sunday.
Nicole Vaiani and Nicole Wong led the way on the women's side, both competing in foil. Vaiani earned a top-10 finish as she placed ninth with a 14-9 record in the five-touch bout round robins. After winning regionals, Wong went 12-11 at the NCAA Championships which was good enough for an 11th-place finish. Because they finished in the 9-12 range, both Vaiani and Wong will be awarded Honorable Mention All-American. Also for the women, Stephanie Wolf finished 15th in epee while Arabella Uhry placed 23rd in saber.
On the men's side, Upbin had the fourth best record in foil, going 14-8 in 22 bouts, to finish sixth.
Michael Li finished two wins behind him, which was good enough for ninth. Upbin will be awarded Second-Team All-American while Li gets Honorable Mention.
Justin Yoo looked to repeat last year's performance, when he made it to the championship bout in epee. This season, Yoo finished just three wins behind as he earned ninth place and Honorable Mention All-American. Also in epee,
Sean Wilson placed 21st in his first NCAA Championships appearance. In saber,
Raphael Van Hoffelen finished 18th while
Julian Merchant, who was a late addition as an at-large bid, placed 23rd.
Full Results
Women's Foil
Nicole Vaiani: 14-9 (9th) *Honorable Mention All-American
Nicole Wong: 12-11 (11th) *Honorable Mention All-American
Men's Foil
Willie Upbin: 14-8 (6th) *Second-Team All-American
Michael Li: 12-10 (9th) *Honorable Mention All-American
Women's Epee
Stephanie Wolf: 10-13 (15th)
Men's Epee
Justin Yoo: 13-10 (9th) * Honorable Mention All-American
Sean Wilson: 8-15 (21st)
Women's Saber
Arabella Uhry: 6-17 (21st)
Men's Saber
Raphael Van Hoffelen: 7-16 (18th)
Julian Merchant: 5-18 (23rd)
