CLEVELAND – For the first time since the NCAA began hosting the fencing championship in 2000, the Big Red saw two individuals finish in the top 10 of their respective weapon, while the team's 14th place finish is the highest in the NCAA era.

"I felt an incredible amount of joy and pride coaching our athletes today," said head coach Daria Schneider. "They may be young but they are talented and hungry. They left it all on teh strip. I feel strongly that they were engaged in every moment doing everything in their power to win at the big show. I know we are capable of even more and I can't wait to accomplish it with this group of athletes and coaches."
 
At the end of the day, freshmen Esther Bentolila and Megan Eno were crowned All-America to become Cornell's first All-American teammates since Christine Hamori and Sio Moss in 1984.

"We are putting together an incredible group of people, athletes, coaches and staff and you can feel it in the energy," added Schneider. "Bringing together great people with good energy, innovative ideas, a strong work ethic, and hunger to succeed is what is allowing us to make such significant breakthroughs for our program and accomplish things for the first time in decades."  
 
Bentolila finished the tournament strong to take sixth place overall in the saber competition with 16 victories and a +21 touch differential to earn second-team All-America honors.    

"I started this season with an injury, yet I was still able to learn patience, resilience and grit," said Bentolila. "Today I can say, is a testimony of all the effort I put in and the countless hours I've spent practicing technique, footwork, bladework, and situational bouting. My coach and teammates deserve a lot of credit. Without them, this would not have been possible because they provide me with the foundation and support to succeed, and for that I am grateful. I also have to thank by family and friends for the unconditional love and endless support that fuels my passion to perform."
 
Eno moved up one spot on the second day of the tournament to finish in ninth place in the epee competition to be named Honorable Mention All-American. She posted 13 victories with a +4 touch differential, coming just one touch shy of eighth place and a spot on the second-team.
 
Freshman Gillian Harrill also had an excellent second day, moving up to 16th place in the saber competition. She finished the tournament with 10 victories, including an impressive 5-4 win over the eventual national champion, St. John's Karolina Cieslar.
 
Cornell placed 10th overall in the women's team standings, the highest finish by any school that qualified three or fewer fencers.