MADISON, N.J. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's fencing team opened its season today at the Drew Invitational to open the season at Drew University's Simon Forum and Athletic Center in Madison, N.J.

The Lyons suffered losses in all seven of their matches today. Wheaton began the day with back-to-back 22-5 defeats to Cleveland State University and Denison University. University of Detroit Mercy downed the Lyons 16-11, before New Jersey Institute of Technology scored a 25-2 win over Wheaton. The Lyons suffered consecutive 21-6 defeats to Drew and Wayne State University. Wheaton fell to Lawrence University to close out the day.

Junior Oliver Smink (Rochester, N.Y.) led the Lyons in sabre with seven wins for the day, while sophomore Jun-Ho Chen (Middletown, N.Y.) and Aidan White (Bristol, R.I.) led Wheaton's epee competitors with six wins. Sophomore Solomon Taylor (Evanston, Ill.) compiled four wins as the Lyons top winner in foil.

Smink led Wheaton against Cleveland State with a 2-1 effort at sabre with a 5-2 win over senior Simon Caisse (Cameron Park, Calif.) and a 5-4 decision over first year Hunter Barrows (Chicago, Ill.). Sophomore Demani Howard (Clinton, Conn.) also defeated Barrows, 5-0. Sophomore Charles Pedersen (Shoreham, N.Y.) recorded a 5-3 win at foil over senior Sal Sorrentino (Dyer, Ind.) and first year Adrian Fortes Pina (North Providence, R.I.) turned in his first collegiate win at foil against first year Nigel Copeland (Fairview Park, Ohio). 

The Lyons picked up two wins in both foil and epee against Denison. Fortes Pina dropped just one point in a 5-1 win over senior Matthew Hrehocik (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in foil, while Pedersen earned a 5-4 decision over sophomore Ezra Mundy (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Chen defeated first year Benno Müller (Rosrath, Germany), 5-3, and first year Aiden White (Bristol, R.I.) registered his first collegiate win (5-3) at epee against first year Avi Patel (San Antonio, Texas). Smink won a bout in sabre over junior Ashwath Pratheep (Coimbatore, India), 5-3. 

White and Chen each went 2-1 in epee against Detroit Mercy to lead Wheaton. Chen (5-1) and White (5-4) both earned victories over senior Arturo Rangel (Tijuana Baja California, Mexico). In addition, Chen rung up a 5-4 decision over first year James Russell (Hampstead, N.C.) and White dropped just one point to first year Brevyn Justice. Each Lyon at sabre picked up a win as well. Smink, sophomore Jonathan Quail (Scotia, N.Y.) and Howard all recorded 5-1 wins over sophomore Mac Gray (Macomb, Mich.). Taylor snagged Wheaton's other point with a 5-4 win over junior Phillip Hunter (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at foil. 

Wheaton received victories at sabre and foil against NJIT. Quail earned the Lyons' lone point at sabre, dropping just one point in a 5-1 triumph over junior Markelo Deona (Pompton Lakes, N.J.). Taylor turned in a 5-4 edge over first year Andrew Arce (Fort Lee, N.J.) at foil.

Smink won two of three bouts in sabre against Drew with a 5-4 win over junior Jason Ahlman (Swedesboro, N.J.) and a 5-3 margin against Copp. Quail added a point in the weapon with a 5-3 triumph over first year Juan Jaramillo (Lincoln Park, N.J.). The Lyons added two more points in epee. Sophomore Daniel Mesele (Portland, Maine) and White earned identical 5-4 wins over junior Jackson Howard (Guilford, Conn.). Pedersen rolled over junior Andrew Klyczek (Chesapeake, Va.), 5-1, in sabre. 

Wheaton earned three points in sabre over Wayne State, led by Quail with two victories. The sophomore dropped just one point in both of his triumphs over first year Itzel Alsina (Coamo, P.R.) and sophomore Gwyd Perry (Bloomfield, Mich.). Smink posted a 5-3 win over senior Hunter Battisfore (Hancock, Mich.). The Lyons received a win each at epee from White and Chen as well. White took down first year Tyler Peckens (Lake Orion, Mich.), 5-3, while Chen outlasted first year Logan Williams (Skokie, Ill.), 5-4. Taylor recorded the lone point at foil for Wheaton after yielding just one point to sophomore Lukas Tsao (Houston, Texas). 

The Lyons picked up two points in both sabre and foil against Lawrence. Howard eased past first year Oscar Narut (Chicago, Ill.), 5-2, and Quail earned a 5-4 win over junior Carlos Garcia de la Puente (Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica) in sabre. Fortes Pina and Taylor both recorded a win over first year Ryan Espinal (Little Falls, N.J.) at foil. Fortes Pina did not drop a point in his win, while Taylor posted a 5-2 win. Chen picked up Wheaton's point in the epee with a 5-2 win over sophomore Brennan Rieck (Elkhorn, Neb.).

Wheaton returns to action tomorrow for the second day of the Drew Invitational against Lawrence at 9:00 a.m.