Men’s Fencing Posts Ivy Four-Peat

Columbia won a share of its fourth consecutive league title by defeating Princeton 15–12 in the final round of the men’s competition at the Ivy League Fencing Championships on February 12 in Philadelphia. It was the 38th league title in program history. The Lions shared the championship with Penn and Princeton for the second straight year after all three schools posted 4–1 records in the two-day, round robin event.

After routing Brown 21–6, the Lions dropped a 14–13 decision to Penn to complete the opening day with a 1–1 record. They trailed Harvard 11–3 on Day 2 before rallying to win 11 of the final 13 bouts and claim a 14–13 victory, then beat Yale by the same score to set up their match against Princeton, in which captain Porter Hesslegrave ’18 won his final épée bout for the clinching point.

An action shot of fencers

MIKE TURESKI / SPORTSPIX

Columbia’s women came as close as possible to a third consecutive Ivy League title but lost to Princeton 14–13 in the final round to finish second with a 5–1 record. Margaret Lu ’17 won the individual women’s foil championship, compiling a 13–2 bout record.

Lu was among the six Columbia fencers who earned All-Ivy recognition. Joining her on the First Team were Nolen Scruggs ’19 (men’s foil), Sara Taffel BC’17 (women’s foil), Katie Angen ’18 (women’s épée) and Lena Johnson BC’18 (women’s sabre). Gabe Canaux ’19 (men’s épée) earned Second Team honors.

The Lions sought to defend their national championship when they competed in the NCAA Regional Championships in New Haven, Conn., on March 12 and the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, March 23–26.