Harvard and Yale are Tied Atop the 2011 Men's Ivy League Round-Robin Standings

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Ivy Round-Robin Central

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Harvard and Yale men’s fencing teams each recorded two wins on the opening day of the 2011 Ivy League Fencing Round-Robins, which were contested at Princeton’s Jadwin Gymnasium on Saturday. Penn and Princeton posted 1-1 marks, while Brown and Columbia went 0-2 on the day.  

In the day’s first round of action, Yale scored an upset win over eighth-ranked Columbia, 19-8. The Bulldogs used an 8-1 mark in sabre and a 7-2 record in foil to get past the Lions. Harvard bested Penn, 16-11, in the first round’s other match.

In round two, Penn edged Columbia in the closest men’s contest of the day, 15-12.  The Quakers posted 6-3 records in foil and sabre en route to the victory. Princeton downed Brown, 20-7, in the round’s other matchup.

Harvard and Princeton, each carrying 1-0 records at the time, clashed to highlight the third round of action. The second-ranked Crimson prevailed over the sixth-ranked Tigers, 17-10, led by 6-3 marks in sabre and epee.

In the individual epee standings, Columbia’s Alen Hadzic, Yale’s Cornelius Saunders and Princeton’s Michael Elfassy find themselves embroiled in a three-way tie as each posted 5-1 records on the day.

In foil, Nathaniel Botwinick posted an unblemished 6-0 mark, while Princeton’s Alexander Mills and Penn’s Vidur Kapur each went 5-1.

In sabre, Yale’s Nate Benzimra also went 6-0 on the day, followed by Thomas Kolasa of Harvard, who went 5-1.

The top three individual finishers in each weapon will earn All-Ivy first team status following the conclusion of the two-day event, while the next three fencers will earn All-Ivy second team honors. Also, starting with the 2011 Round-Robin, the men’s fencing head coaches will vote for a Performer and Rookie of the Round-Robin, with each weapon’s top finisher eligible for the Top Performer award.

The teams will return to Jadwin Gym tomorrow, Feb. 13 for the final four rounds of the 2011 Round-Robin looking to capture the Gustavus T. Kirby Trophy, awarded annually to the men’s fencing Ivy League Round-Robin Champion. Fencing is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Day One Results

Round 1
Yale def. #8 Columbia, 19-8
#2 Harvard def. #7 Penn, 16-11

Round 2
#6 Princeton def. Brown, 20-7
#7 Penn def. #8 Columbia, 15-12

Round 3
#2 Harvard def. #6 Princeton, 17-10
Yale def. Brown, 19-8

Day Two Schedule

Round 4
Columbia vs. Princeton
Yale vs. Penn
Harvard vs. Brown

Round 5
Columbia vs. Harvard
Brown vs. Penn

Round 6
Princeton vs. Yale
Brown vs. Columbia

Round 7
Princeton vs. Penn
Yale vs. Harvard