What: Vassar Invitational
When: Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.
Where: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Vassar Invitation: For the first time under head coach Iryna Dolgikh, Cornell will compete in the Vassar Invitational. The Big Red will face Vassar College, Haverford College, Queens College, Drew University, Hunter College, Yeshiva University, the City College of New York and Stevens Institute of Technology. Each school invited will compete against each other in head-to-head match ups of nine points from each weapon. The team with the best record at the end of the day will take the Invitational crown.
Last Year’s Vassar Invitational: Rutgers left the Vassar Invitational with the best record among eight teams competing. The big match took place in round six as both Rutgers and Vassar were undefeated at that point. After the foil and saber rounds both teams were tied, but the Scarlet Knights’ epee dominated to win the match 16-11 overall.
Last Tournament for Cornell: The Cornell fencing team had an outstanding showing at the 30th Annual Temple Fencing Open with six top-10 finishes. In epee, the Big Red placed four fencers in the top 10 (out of 65), including Christie Robinson and Tasha Hall who took fifth and sixth, respectively. Sallie Dietrich (ninth) and Maria Napolitano (10th) rounded out the top-10, while Katherine Thompson took 19th and Adelaide McDonnell placed 24th. In foil, Rebecca Hirschfeld earned the bronze medal, tying for third, while Dana Baines fell just outside the top-10 with an 11th place finish. Analise Peleggi (29th), Lucia Rafanelli (36th) and McKellen Rattray (t-37th) also performed well among the 92 participants. In sabre, Audrey Speer finished eighth overall, while Beverly Yang nearly placed in the top-10 with an 11th place finish among 73 participants. Kathleen Halpin finished 30th, while Anna Bardakh finished 73rd.
Up Next: The Big Red travel to Waltham, Mass. to compete in the Brandeis Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 5 in the final competition of the fall semester and the final invitational before the Ivy League Championship.