MADISON, N.J. – Sophomore Norah Vaughan (Hope Hull, Ala.) dominated in the foil with a 13-3 record to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's fencing team on the second day of the Drew Invitational at the Simon Forum and Athletic Center in Madison, N.J.
Vaughan was undefeated in five of six matches on the day for the Lyons. Vaughan picked up Wheaton's only point in a 26-1 loss against Johns Hopkins University to begin the day. She recorded a 5-3 win over senior Rosy Cepero (Miami, Fla.). Junior Julianna Wu (Carlisle, Mass.) and first year Nina Markovsky (Bellport, N.Y.) both picked up wins in foil for the Blue Jays. Juniors Mariela Abramson (Cambridge, Mass.) and Janie McSweeney (Clinton, N.J.) and first year Thansi Garikipati (Edmond, Okla.) each earned a victory in epee for Johns Hopkins.
Wheaton was defeated, 24-3, by Stevens Institute of Technology with all three points coming from Vaughan in foil. She recorded a pair of 5-1 wins over sophomore Julia DiPaolo (Long Valley, N.J.) and first year Selita Ikejibeh (Warren, N.J.) to go with a 5-3 triumph over junior Akemi Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.). Juniors Grace Hicks (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Sofia Stoeckel (Woodbury, Minn.) and first year Katherine Mooney (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) all notched epee wins for the Ducks.
The Lyons dropped a 25-2 result to Wellesley College, but Vaughan was 2-1 in her bouts at foil. She picked up 5-3 decisions over first year Emma Fung (Saratoga, Calif.) and junior Lauren Khoo (San Francisco, Calif.). First year Viola Qian (Jiangsu, China) earned a foil win for the Blue, while sophomore Julia Peeler (Fairfax, Va.), senior Lily Millard (Selkirk, N.Y.) and sophomore Sissi Zou (Shanghai, China) registered a win each in epee.
Wheaton fell to Haverford College, 21-4, but received two points from Vaughan in foil and a point from sophomore Valerie Oginsky (Princeton, N.J.) in sabre. Vaughan surrendered just one point in her two bouts combined, including a 5-0 shutout over senior Emely Polanco (New York, N.Y.) and a 5-1 win over junior Sophie Stamicar (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Oginsky picked up a point with a 5-3 victory over junior Olivia Rueger (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) in epee. Senior Nina Chafee (Minneapolis, Minn.) and senior Nina Hamilton (Saint Louis, Mo.) each earned wins in epee for the Fords.
The Lyons most competitive match of the day came in a 12-5 defeat to Lafayette College. Vaughan won both of her bouts at foil with a 5-3 count over both sophomore Zoe Lenz (Hoboken, N.J.) and first year Margaret Narula (Garden City, N.Y.). Oginsky was 1-1 at epee with a 5-3 win over first year Helen Broikos (Rochester, N.Y.). Sophomore Hilla Wetherill (Helsinki, Finland) collected a triumph at epee for the Leopards.
Wheaton closed out the day with a 24-3 setback to Long Island University Brooklyn. Vaughan was a perfect 3-0 in foil for the Lyons, including a pair of shutouts. She defeated both sophomore Mindi Sherpa (Teaneck, N.J.) and senior Catherine Felix (Bloomingdale, N.J.) without giving up a point, while taking down junior Abigail Hunt (Miller Place, N.Y.), 5-3. Junior Francesca Perez (Queens, N.Y.) and seniors Costanza Greggi (Rome, Italy) and Angela Wandmacher (Brentwood, N.Y.) each recorded a win at epee for the Sharks.
Wheaton returns to action when it travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to compete in the Syd Fadner Invitational hosted by Boston College on Saturday, November 22 at 12:00 p.m.
