Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Junior Kimberlee Montoya helped the Irish women notch a victory in the epee on Sunday during the final day of the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships.

Notre Dame women claim a win in the epee.

Feb. 24, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Notre Dame men's and women's fencing teams both registered second-place finishes during the team competition of the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships on Sunday in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse. Notre Dame finished second, behind Ohio State, in the combined standings. The lone Fighting Irish victory on the day came in the women's epee.

The top-ranked Ohio State women edged out No. 2 Notre Dame, 650-645. Northwestern, the fourth-ranked team in the latest United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) poll, finished third with 610 points. Rounding out the top five at the conference meet for the women were Michigan (510) and Chicago (475).

Both the men's and women's competition featured a 19-team field.

Notre Dame topped Northwestern in the epee final after taking out Ohio State in the semifinals. The Buckeyes registered wins in the both the women's foil and sabre. Notre Dame was the runner-up in the sabre, while the Irish tied Northwestern for second in the foil.

In the men's competition, second-ranked Ohio State took first with 675 points, while No. 3 Notre Dame finished second with 620 points. Cleveland State was third with 530 points, followed by Northwestern (465) and Indiana (455), respectively, in the top five.

The Ohio State men won all three weapons. Notre Dame finished second in both the epee and sabre, while the Fighting Irish were third in the foil. Cleveland State was the runner-up in the men's foil.

Ohio State registered a combined total of 1,325 points to take the overall team title over Notre Dame. The Irish tallied 1,255 points. Northwestern finished third with 1,075 points. Michigan was fourth with 965 points and Indiana completed the top five with 860 points.

This was the 10th annual Midwest Fencing Conference Championships. For full results of the championships click here.