The Fencing Macs: Slicing the Competition

The Yeshiva Macs Fencing team fought their two first-semester meets, taking an early 2-5 team score versus the competition. While the team usually begins the season with a home meet, this year, the first competition to test their mettle was the annual Baltimore trip, in which various teams gather at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to fence. The home meet took place one week afterwards, on November 15, as YU hosted Vassar and Hunter Colleges.

After spending a relaxing shabbat with members of the Baltimore community, the fencers arrived at JHU and focused on the immediate task of defeating Virginia Military Institution, a new member to the Mid-Atlantic Conference Fencing Coalition, MACFA. The Macs proved victorious in their first bout. However, this win was an unauspicious beginning to the day, as the team lost to all the other schools participating.

Yet, amidst the smoldering ruins of a 1-4 record, there stills exists much to be upbeat about. The team lost to JHU by a score of 16-11, the closest they ever came to beating perennial powerhouse Hopkins. Propelled forward by the epee team and a strong desire to smash Hopkins, the fencers tried their best, but the virgin status of the Macs foil squad - all first-year and first-time fencers - dictated the team's disappointing outcome.

Out of the three weapon squads, epee is the strongest, due to returning fencers in all starting positions, and they took JHU 7-2. Sabre, the next weapon along the winning-percentage axle, led by fourth-year fencer and weapons leader Avraham Goldberg and partial returnee Micha Mandel, took four bouts from Hopkins.

Unfortunately for the Macs, foil weapons leader and solitary returnee in foil, Yevgeny Povlovsky, was injured earlier in the day and couldn't fence against JHU.

Some personal highlights were: Co-Captains Hadar Weiss, who swept his Hopkins opponents, (Epee;10-5) and Steve Mellner (Epee;9-6) finished with records good enough to qualify for All-Conference in MACFA; Alex Traiman (Epee;6-7) ended on a high note, winning 3 of his last 4; Avraham Goldberg (Sabre;8-7); first-timer Micha Mandel (Sabre; 6-6). Also noteworthy were Yevgeny Povlovsky's 4 wins, after a winless first season.

At home, Yeshiva beat one of its two guests, while narrowly losing to the second. Vassar, previously a women's-only college, defeated YU by two bouts, but the Macs asserted themselves against Hunter to pull off a win. Some personal records from that meet were: Avraham Goldberg's 6-0; Steve Mellner's 5-0; and Alex Traiman's 4-1.

The lull now begins for the fencing team. This semester's meets are over, yet training must continue in earnest as the season returns with a vengeance immediately upon the team's return from winter break. Every Sunday from the end of January through mid-March, is a scheduled meet, and they must even find a Thursday afternoon when they can travel to fence St. John's University in Queens.

Of surprise to some at Facilities Management was the viewer turnout for the home fencing meet. While fencing is not a mainstream sport, this year proved that many fellow students and faculty enjoy watching the fencing team defend YU's honor with hard steel.