March 7, 2007
NORTHHAMPTON, MA - The Johns Hopkins women's fencing team picked up its third Army Trophy in six years at the 2007 NIWFA Championships last weekend. The Blue Jays (34-11) went 17-1 in the team round with their only loss coming to the Temple Owls, who went undefeated. Hopkins was also the winner of the NIWFA trophy as the top Division III team.
"The Blue Jay distinguished themselves by quality performances earning individual and team victories throughout a very tough schedule," said head coach James Murray. "It was capped off by a 100% effort and focus throughout the marathon seven hour championship event."
Both the Sabre and Foil squads earned second place medals. Senior Sarah Smilow (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown), sophomore Erica Hartmann (Silver Spring, MD/Montgomery Blair) and freshman Jessie Demois (Pittsburg, PA) competed on the Sabre squad. Smilow has won a total of seven NIWFA medals in her four-year career.
Sophomore Grace Fried (Forest Hills, NY/Stuyvesant) and freshmen Samantha Dolan (S. Pasadena, CA/S. Pasadena) and Katie Kim (Garden City, NY/Garden City) competed on the Foil squad. Kim went undefeated in her 17 pool bouts for the Blue Jays.
The Epee squad of junior Cindy Liu (Walnut, CA/Walnut) and seniors Joanna Kochaniak (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) and Kim Strazdas (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) finished ninth. Kochaniak, Strazdas and Smilow have won two Army Trophies in their distinguished careers. In addition, Kochaniak was named to the NIWFA All-Academic team for the third time.
After the conclusion of the team round, fencers qualify to the individual final. Hopkins had five finalists in Hartmann, Smilow, Fried, Dolan and Kim. Hartmann finished second while Smilow and Fried each finished in fourth.
"The team devotes so much time to the sport," Murray said. "Like other Hopkins' athletes, they give that much extra involving, many personal sacrifices for the common effort. The way we approached the championships is 'we might as well make it pay off'".
