No matter what the sport, a Penn-Princeton matchup is always big.
The Penn men's fencing team added another chapter to the storied rivalry by blowing away a strong Princeton team, 17-10.
Penn (13-1, 2-1 Ivy) finished off a surprising victory over the Tigers yesterday to stay alive in the Ivy title race.
With the win, the Quakers move into a tie for first place with Columbia, who they will face Saturday in a multi-meet at Temple.
Penn clinched last night's win only 21 bouts in, temporarily doubling up the Tigers 14-7, which already gave Penn a majority of the 27 total bouts.
The Quakers knew this Tigers squad was a very talented one, and the team was ecstatic with the win.
"They have an Olympian [Soren Thompson] on their team; we have no Olympians," said senior captain and foil fencer Steve Gavalas, who went 2-1 on the day. "We have a team that will fight and win."
The Quakers know the match against Princeton is always huge, especially when it's between two teams fighting for a Ivy League championship.
Gavalas played the role in which NFL fans are used to seeing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, pumping up the team in the huddle before the meet.
"I came out with some powerful words," Gavalas said. "There's one thing our team has above all other teams, and that's heart. Nothing makes me happier than beating Princeton."
"It's not a bitter rivalry, but it's a very avid, enthusiastic rivalry," Penn coach Dave Micahnik added.
Freshman sabre fencer Zach Yeates went undefeated for the day at 3-0 and won the clinching bout to keep Penn's hopes for a league championship alive.
"Everyone played their heart out and stepped up," Yeates said. "The league is wide open now."
Led by sophomore Jon Gale, the epee squad came out with a stunning win over Princeton's quite formidable epee team, which includes the infamous Olympian, Thompson.
"If we hadn't won today, our title hopes would have been lost," Gale said. "A desperate team is a dangerous one."
