Saturday, November 13
USAFA
9:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Western Invitational
Air Force Fencing Wraps Up Competition at Western Invitational
11/15/2021 12:01:00 PM | Fencing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force fencing completed competition as the host site of the 2021 Western Invitational this Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 13-14, at the USAFA Intercollegiate Indoor Tennis Courts. Facing some of the most elite college fencing programs in the nation, the Falcons came away with six team victories in head-to-head competition.
On the men's side, Air Force earned team wins over Brandeis (18-9), NJIT (16-11), Incarnate Word (17-10) and UC San Diego (16-11). The women's team defeated Brandeis (14-13) and Incarnate Word (14-13).
The men's team had six competitors reach double-digit bout victories on the weekend, led by seniors Nestor Levin and Will Nikolai. Levin posted a 17-6 record in the men's foil competition, while Nikolai went 16-8 in men's saber.
Sophomore Eric Iwamoto earned 12 victories in saber. Sophomore Griffin Peter (foil) and freshman Siddhant Padhye (epee) earned 11 bout victories each. Senior Zack Yung earned 10 wins in epee.
On the women's side, four Falcons earned double-digit bout victories, led by senior Erin Shea and sophomore Josie Ratzlaff. Shea posted a 17-10 record in women's saber and Ratzlaff earned 13 victories in women's epee. The Falcons fared well overall in the women's epee, as freshman Renata Russell earned 12 bout wins and fellow freshman Valerie Slackman earned 10.
During the intermission on Sunday, Air Force honored its senior class of 2022. Seniors Levin, Chip Mauerer, Aaron Mayfield, Nikolai, Shea and Yung were honored for their contributions to Air Force fencing.
Head coach Omar Elgeziry on the weekend:
"It was a long weekend but also a very successful one. We managed to run the biggest NCAA fencing duals ever at USAFA and the West Region. Ten colleges competed at the meet, which was a huge turnout for the tournament. Our cadets gained excellent experience, and they performed exceptionally and demonstrated professionalism in all aspects. There were some tough moments, but we always managed to bounce back and refocus.
Special thanks to our Superintendent Lt. Gen Richard Clark and our Director of Athletics Nathan Pine for honoring our senior fencers in a fantastic seniors' event.
Overall, I am incredibly proud of our team and the experiences we earned, which will set us up the next target at Ohio State the first weekend in December. Go Falcons!"
The Falcons return to action Dec. 4-5 at the Elite Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.
Air Force results at Western Invitational
Men's Head-To-Head
Air Force def. Brandeis 18-9
Air Force def. NJIT 16-11
North Carolina def. Air Force 15-12
Columbia def. Air Force 23-4
Notre Dame def. Air Force 19-8
Stanford def. Air Force 16-11
Air Force def. UIW 17-10
Air Force def. UC San Diego 16-11
Women's Head-To-Head
Air Force def. Brandeis 14-13
NJIT def. Air Force 16-11
North Carolina def. Air Force 16-11
Columbia def. Air Force 24-3
Notre Dame def. Air Force 21-6
Stanford def. Air Force 23-4
Northwestern def. Air Force 23-4
Air Force def. UIW 14-13
UC San Diego def. Air Force 20-7
On the men's side, Air Force earned team wins over Brandeis (18-9), NJIT (16-11), Incarnate Word (17-10) and UC San Diego (16-11). The women's team defeated Brandeis (14-13) and Incarnate Word (14-13).
The men's team had six competitors reach double-digit bout victories on the weekend, led by seniors Nestor Levin and Will Nikolai. Levin posted a 17-6 record in the men's foil competition, while Nikolai went 16-8 in men's saber.
Sophomore Eric Iwamoto earned 12 victories in saber. Sophomore Griffin Peter (foil) and freshman Siddhant Padhye (epee) earned 11 bout victories each. Senior Zack Yung earned 10 wins in epee.
On the women's side, four Falcons earned double-digit bout victories, led by senior Erin Shea and sophomore Josie Ratzlaff. Shea posted a 17-10 record in women's saber and Ratzlaff earned 13 victories in women's epee. The Falcons fared well overall in the women's epee, as freshman Renata Russell earned 12 bout wins and fellow freshman Valerie Slackman earned 10.
During the intermission on Sunday, Air Force honored its senior class of 2022. Seniors Levin, Chip Mauerer, Aaron Mayfield, Nikolai, Shea and Yung were honored for their contributions to Air Force fencing.
Head coach Omar Elgeziry on the weekend:
"It was a long weekend but also a very successful one. We managed to run the biggest NCAA fencing duals ever at USAFA and the West Region. Ten colleges competed at the meet, which was a huge turnout for the tournament. Our cadets gained excellent experience, and they performed exceptionally and demonstrated professionalism in all aspects. There were some tough moments, but we always managed to bounce back and refocus.
Special thanks to our Superintendent Lt. Gen Richard Clark and our Director of Athletics Nathan Pine for honoring our senior fencers in a fantastic seniors' event.
Overall, I am incredibly proud of our team and the experiences we earned, which will set us up the next target at Ohio State the first weekend in December. Go Falcons!"
The Falcons return to action Dec. 4-5 at the Elite Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.
Air Force results at Western Invitational
Men's Head-To-Head
Air Force def. Brandeis 18-9
Air Force def. NJIT 16-11
North Carolina def. Air Force 15-12
Columbia def. Air Force 23-4
Notre Dame def. Air Force 19-8
Stanford def. Air Force 16-11
Air Force def. UIW 17-10
Air Force def. UC San Diego 16-11
Women's Head-To-Head
Air Force def. Brandeis 14-13
NJIT def. Air Force 16-11
North Carolina def. Air Force 16-11
Columbia def. Air Force 24-3
Notre Dame def. Air Force 21-6
Stanford def. Air Force 23-4
Northwestern def. Air Force 23-4
Air Force def. UIW 14-13
UC San Diego def. Air Force 20-7
Players Mentioned
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