Lawrence grabs fourth at MFC Championships; Vikings take gold in sabre

EVANSTON, Ill. — Lawrence University grabbed fourth place in the combined team standings at Saturday’s Midwest Fencing Conference Championships at Northwestern University.

Lawrence finished the day with 1,350 points, and Ohio State took the title with 1,580. The Lawrence men were second with 750 points, trailing first-place Ohio State by just 35 points. The Lawrence women were fifth with 600 points. Ohio State won the women’s title with 795.

The men’s sabre contingent of Graham Jones, Joe Davis and Ian Pelton took the title with a 5-3 win over Michigan. The match was tied 3-3 when Davis and Pelton both posted 5-3 wins to give the Vikings the championship. Drew Doares and Alex Krzoska also picked up wins for the Vikings in earlier matches. Sabre reached the title match with a 5-4 upset win over the Buckeyes.

The men’s foil group of Alden Grasse, Jacob Hodges and Erik Paulson reached the title match but dropped a 5-0 decision to Ohio State. Foil picked up a 5-3 win over Cleveland State in the semifinals. Men’s epee placed placed fifth.

On the women’s side, epee led the way by placing fifth. Women’s foil took seventh place, the sabre was ninth.

Midwest Fencing Conference Championships

Combined Team Standings

Ohio State 1580, Northwestern 1435, Michigan 1355, Lawrence 1350, Purdue 1225, Michigan State 1110, Chicago 1055, Case Western Reserve 1015, Wayne State 975, Cleveland State 930, Oberlin 855, Wisconsin 770, Indiana 730, Oakland 680, Xavier 680, Detroit Mercy 645, Illinois 530, Iowa 520, McKendree 475, Minnesota 350, Bradley 345, Bowling Green 215.

Men’s Epee

Purdue def. Lawrence 5-3 (quarterfinals), Lawrence def. Wayne State 5-4.

Men’s Foil

Ohio State def. Lawrence 5-0 (final), Lawrence def. Cleveland State 5-3 (semifinal), Lawrence def. Northwestern 5-3, Lawrence def. Wayne State 5-3.

Men’s Sabre

Lawrence def. Michigan 5-3 (final), Lawrence def. Ohio State 5-4 (semifinal), Lawrence def. Purdue 5-1, Lawrence def. Wayne State 5-0.

Women’s Epee

Purdue def. Lawrence 5-2 (quarterfinals), Lawrence def. Iowa 5-1.

Women’s Foil

Northwestern def. Lawrence 5-0 (quarterfinals), Lawrence def. Wisconsin 5-0.

Women’s Sabre

Cleveland State def. Lawrence 5-3.