DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Pennsylvania men's fencing team picked up 40 total bout victories Thursday during Day 1 of the NCAA Championships, concluding the day in fifth place.

The Quakers finished Thursday ahead of Ivy League rivals Harvard (8^th), Yale (9^th), and Keystone State foe Penn State (7^th). Notre Dame, Columbia, Princeton, and Ohio State occupied the top four spots through three rounds of competition.

Sophomore epeeist Isaac Herbst won 11 of 15 bouts Thursday, putting himself in third place, while weapon-mate Blake Broszus won six of 15 bouts, taking 17th. Freshman foilist Davide Lorenzoni finished the day in sixth place with 10 victories in 15 bouts with weapon-mate Avery Townsend taking 19^th after six wins in 15 bouts. Simon Kushkov, the lone male Quaker sabreist at the Championships, won seven of 14 bouts, taking 11^th place.

Following the fourth and fifth rounds tomorrow, the top-four finishers in each weapon will fence in semifinal 15-touch bouts, with the winners advancing to determine first and second places, and the non-advancing fencers being awarded a tie for third place.

The women are slated to begin their portion of the competition Saturday morning.
 
Day 1 Results (each weapon had 24 competitors)

Men's Epee
Isaac Herbst -- 11-4 (3^rd place)
Avery Townsend – 6-9 (19^th place)
 
Men's Foil
Davide Lorenzoni – 10-5 (6^th place)
Blake Broszus – 6-9 (17^th place)
 
Men's Sabre
Simon Kushkov – 7-7 (11^th place)