Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo / Trevor Co
Air Force Fencing With Program-Record 10 NCAA Qualifiers
3/18/2021 1:15:00 PM | Fencing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force fencing has a program-record 10 cadet-athletes qualify for the 2021 NCAA Fencing Championships. The Falcons had six qualify on the men's side and four on the women's team.
The program nearly doubled the previous school record of six fencers qualifying, which was done by the 2015 and 2003 teams.
"What historical moment for the Falcon fencers," head coach Omar Elgeziry said. "This outcome reflects the growth in the program and how hard this team works every day. I am thrilled with what we have accomplished so far; however, the job is not done yet. Next week we have a lot of bouts, and we are ready to fight. Go Falcons!"
On the men's team, the Falcons are sending two fencers each in all three weapons, the maximum allowed per team.
Seniors Matt Goode and Will Nikolai will represent the Falcons in men's saber. Goode qualified for the second time in his career and Nikolai earned his first.
Sophomore Matthew Han and freshman Russell Cha qualified for the Falcons in men's epee. Han earns his second NCAA bid, while Cha received his first.
Junior Nestor Levin and freshman Griffin Peter qualified for the Falcons in men's epee. A 2020 All-American, Levin qualified for the third-straight season. Peter earned his first.
On the women's side, senior Nicole Agob and freshman Josie Ratzlaff qualified in women's epee. Agob earned her second bid, while Ratzlaff picked up her first.
Freshman Catherine Kim earned a bid in women's saber and senior Kaitlyn Guo earned a bid in women's foil. Both earned their first-career bids.
In addition to the record haul of 10 fencers qualifying, the Falcons hit several other program firsts--the first time qualifying the full six-athlete allotment for the men's team, first time qualifying four female fencers in one year and first time qualifying the full epee squad (both men's and women's) in one year.
Air Force will compete at the 2021 NCAA Championships held, March 25-28 at State College, Pa., on the Penn State campus.
Air Force Fencing 2021 NCAA Fencing Championship Qualifiers
Men
Russell Cha, Fr. - epee
Matt Goode, Sr. - saber (second bid)
Matthew Han, So. - epee (second bid)
Nestor Levin, Fr. - foil (third bid)
Will Nikolai, Sr. - saber
Griffin Peter, Fr. - foil
Women
Nicole Agob, Sr. - epee (second bid)
Kaitlyn Guo, Sr. - foil
Catherine Kim, Fr. - saber
Josie Ratzlaff, Fr. - epee
The program nearly doubled the previous school record of six fencers qualifying, which was done by the 2015 and 2003 teams.
"What historical moment for the Falcon fencers," head coach Omar Elgeziry said. "This outcome reflects the growth in the program and how hard this team works every day. I am thrilled with what we have accomplished so far; however, the job is not done yet. Next week we have a lot of bouts, and we are ready to fight. Go Falcons!"
On the men's team, the Falcons are sending two fencers each in all three weapons, the maximum allowed per team.
Seniors Matt Goode and Will Nikolai will represent the Falcons in men's saber. Goode qualified for the second time in his career and Nikolai earned his first.
Sophomore Matthew Han and freshman Russell Cha qualified for the Falcons in men's epee. Han earns his second NCAA bid, while Cha received his first.
Junior Nestor Levin and freshman Griffin Peter qualified for the Falcons in men's epee. A 2020 All-American, Levin qualified for the third-straight season. Peter earned his first.
On the women's side, senior Nicole Agob and freshman Josie Ratzlaff qualified in women's epee. Agob earned her second bid, while Ratzlaff picked up her first.
Freshman Catherine Kim earned a bid in women's saber and senior Kaitlyn Guo earned a bid in women's foil. Both earned their first-career bids.
In addition to the record haul of 10 fencers qualifying, the Falcons hit several other program firsts--the first time qualifying the full six-athlete allotment for the men's team, first time qualifying four female fencers in one year and first time qualifying the full epee squad (both men's and women's) in one year.
Air Force will compete at the 2021 NCAA Championships held, March 25-28 at State College, Pa., on the Penn State campus.
Air Force Fencing 2021 NCAA Fencing Championship Qualifiers
Men
Russell Cha, Fr. - epee
Matt Goode, Sr. - saber (second bid)
Matthew Han, So. - epee (second bid)
Nestor Levin, Fr. - foil (third bid)
Will Nikolai, Sr. - saber
Griffin Peter, Fr. - foil
Women
Nicole Agob, Sr. - epee (second bid)
Kaitlyn Guo, Sr. - foil
Catherine Kim, Fr. - saber
Josie Ratzlaff, Fr. - epee
Players Mentioned
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