Our daily newsletter rounding up all of the top headlines from the DP. Get it Monday-Friday in your inbox. Free.
Sign up »
34th Street Magazine's "Toast" is a semi-weekly newsletter with the latest on Penn's campus culture and arts scene. Delivered Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Free.
Sign up »
Penn, Unbuttoned is Penn's only intentionally satirical newsletter, giving you your weekly dose of comedy from Under the Button every Wednesday. Free.
Sign up »
Quaker Nation is a weekly sports newsletter covering all things Penn sports. Delivered Monday mornings to your inbox. Free.
Sign up »
Recruiter's Row is a biweekly recruitment newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on all things employment related. Get it in your inbox every other Wednesday. Free.
Sign up »
I've already signed up
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
With wins over Denison, the nation's No. 9 ranked team, and Wesleyan, the Penn men's squash team advanced one step closer to its goal of finishing in the nation's top eight this year.
For the Penn men's squash team, this weekend's matches against Yale and Brown represent stepping stones, as the Quakers look to climb up the national rankings this season.
As the nation's top men's squash recruit, Penn freshman Rich Repetto had the world at his finger tips.
The arrival of coach Craig Thorpe-Clark three years ago marked the beginning of a revival for the Penn men's squash team.
The Penn men's tennis team put on a nice show for the home crowd last weekend, winning three of the four singles titles at the Penn Classic.
The Penn men's tennis team went into last weekend's ECAC Championships with a mission.
Last season, the Penn club ice hockey team proved itself to be among the top club hockey teams in the the region, compiling a 16-9 record and defeating powerhouses NYU and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, both of which went on to compete at Nationals.
The Penn men's tennis team began its season with a slew of solid results against Ivy League foes last weekend.
For the Penn men's tennis team, this is a year of rebirth.
For the Penn men's tennis team, a win against Princeton this Saturday would mean much more than just another Ivy League victory. For one thing, it's Princeton. This fact alone ups the stakes, as any Penn athlete will tell you. And for another, it's the Quakers' last match of the season. After a spring fraught with one close loss after another, the Red and Blue (9-10 overall, 1-5 Ivy) would like nothing more than to finish strong. "Winning against Princeton would redeem the whole season because it's always a successful season when you beat Princeton," Penn senior co-captain Rob Pringle said. Defeating the Tigers, however, will be no easy task. After winning the ECAC Championships in the fall, Princeton was the division favorite coming into the spring. While the Tigers haven't exactly measured up to expectations, they still remain dangerous. So far this season, Princeton has only lost two Ivy League matches -- to Ancient Eight co-champions Harvard and Columbia. And with a deep lineup headed by two tough, seasoned players in No. 1 Kyle Kleigerman and No. 2 Judson Williams, the Tigers have no apparent weaknesses at singles. Furthermore, Princeton's No. 1 doubles team of Kleigerman and John Portlock won the doubles competition at ITA Regionals last fall. But according to Penn coach Mark Riley, the Tigers are no different than the other Ivy League teams the Quakers have faced. Thus, he expects the same level of tennis from the Tigers that the Quakers have played against all season. Besides the obvious team rivalry between Penn and Princeton, several Quakers have rivalries of their own to revisit. Penn No. 1 Fanda Stejskal is looking forward to exacting some revenge on Kleigerman after having lost to him last spring in the Quakers' first Ivy League match of the season. The two have not met since. And because Kleigerman is a senior, this weekend will be their last chance to do so. "This is the last match of his life at Princeton," Stejskal said. "I would really like to beat him." At No. 2, Ryan Harwood also faces a familiar opponent in Williams. Harwood defeated Williams in straight sets last spring -- a win he believes played a vital role in earning him ITA Rookie of the Year honors. Williams was the previous year's Rookie of the Year. But Williams is currently on a hot streak and hasn't lost an Ivy League match all season. "Not only will he want redemption, but he'll want to finish a perfect season on a good note," Harwood said. "I want to bring him nightmares." Finally, this Saturday signifies the last collegiate match for Pringle and fellow Penn co-captain Eric Sobotka. The Red and Blue's senior pair are hoping to end their careers with a win.
With so much parity in the Ivy League, someone has to be at the losing end. Unfortunately for the Penn men's tennis team, the Quakers have come up just short all too many times this spring. The Red and Blue hoped to turn their misfortune around this weekend against Cornell and Columbia but could not come up with a win in either attempts. After losing by a heartbreaking, 4-3 score to the Big Red on Friday, Penn succumbed to the Lions, 6-1, on Sunday. Going into the Cornell match, both the Quakers and the Big Red knew that the final score would be close. But no one could have known just how close. After dropping all three doubles matches, Penn and Cornell appeared evenly matched in singles. Penn junior Brian Barki, coming off a three-match winning streak, fell early at the No. 2 position. But the Quakers rebounded, as No. 1 Fanda Stejskal defeated Cornell's Mike Halperin, 7-5, 6-3. Stejskal's win over Halperin, who is ranked No.1 in the Northeast and went undefeated in Ivy League matches last spring, boosted team morale and brought Penn within striking distance of the Big Red. With the Quakers behind by just one point and the remaining four singles matches all in third sets, the victory was up for grabs. At the No. 4 position, Penn senior co-captain Rob Pringle was locked in a tight battle with Cornell's Zach Gallin. Gallin fought back from two match points down to defeat Pringle, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, in what Penn coach Mark Riley called"the pivotal match." The Quakers, however, were still very much in the match -- provided they swept the last three contests. It wasn't to be. The very next result did the Quakers in, as Penn No. 6 Andy Kolker's effort fell short. The sophomore fought back from a set down to even the match but did not have enough firepower left to pull out the victory. So, while Penn sophomore Ryan Harwood and senior co-captain Eric Sobotka, playing at No. 3 and No. 5 respectively, won their matches, Cornell had already secured the win. "Coach told us before the match that the score would be 4-3," Barki said. "Unfortunately, it didn't turn out in our favor." After a disappointing loss that was literally decided by a few points, the Quakers had to regroup before taking on the Lions later that weekend. Because the match was played on Columbia's home courts, the Red and Blue had to weather conditions unlike those at any other Ivy League school. "The match was indoor, on clay," Stejskal said. "And it was in the bubble, so there were really humid, tough conditions." The Lions dominated play, winning all three doubles matches and sweeping four of the six singles matches in straight sets. At No. 5 singles, Sobotka extended his opponent to three sets before falling in a third-set tie-breaker. The lone win for the Quakers came from Harwood. Playing at the No. 2 position, Harwood dispatched Columbia's Akram Zaman, 6-4, 6-3. The Quakers, who now stand at 1-5 in Ivy League play, have just one more chance to redeem themselves this season. They travel to Princeton next Saturday.
After a weekend of mixed results, the Penn men's tennis team can rest assured about one thing -- they won't end their spring campaign without a win in the Ivy League. The Quakers suffered a tough, 5-2 loss at the hands of perennial Ivy power Harvard on Friday but came back Saturday to sweep Dartmouth, 7-0, at home. While the Red and Blue had their share of opportunities against the Crimson, Harvard was clearly in control of the match. The Crimson dominated in all three doubles matches, earning an early lead and taking some of the pressure off their singles players. Harvard then built on that lead by winning in straight sets at No. 4 and No. 5 singles. But the Quakers weren't out of the match just yet. Penn junior Fanda Stejskal finished off an easy victory of his own at No. 1 singles, winning 6-3, 6-2 over Harvard's Cliff Nguyen. And while Penn sophomores Ryan Harwood and Andy Kolker, playing at the No. 2 and No. 6 positions respectively, each lost the first set, both found themselves locked in tight second-set battles. Meanwhile, Penn No. 3 Brian Barki was up a set in his match. While Barki would go on to win his match, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, Harwood and Kolker both lost in second-set tie-breakers, giving the Crimson their third consecutive win and the Quakers their third loss in Ivy League matches this season. "We were an inch away from them, which means we're an inch away from everyone else in the Ivy League, because Harvard is definitely one of the best teams in the Ivy League," Harwood said. Against Dartmouth, however, it was a completely different story. "We directed our emotion [from the Harvard loss] in the right way and pulled together as a team," Harwood said. The Quakers defeated the Big Green in a match during which Penn was hardly tested. The Red and Blue swept all three doubles matches. Singles fed off that momentum to win all six matches, with Stejskal, Barki, Harwood and Kolker all dispatching their opponents in straight sets. Penn co-captain seniors Eric Sobotka and Rob Pringle had slight lapses in the middle of their matches but came back strong to win, 6-0, 6-7, 6-1, and 7-6, 3-6, 6-1, respectively. While the Quakers were happy with their win over Dartmouth, the overall sentiment was one of relief rather than jubilation. Although Dartmouth was clearly the weaker of Penn's two opponents this weekend, the Quakers' victory was hardly predetermined. Earlier this season the Big Green lost by only one match to last year's Ivy League champion, Columbia. Having secured their first win in the Ancient Eight this Spring, the Quakers are hopeful that this is a harbinger of more good things. With three more Ivy League matches left, Penn still has a chance to salvage some of its pride. "We're not ready to throw in the towel on the season just yet," Sobotka said. "I'm going to remember these last matches for a long time, and I want to leave with a good taste in my mouth."
The Penn men's tennis team looks to rebound from its disappointing 0-2 Ivy League record this weekend as it welcomes Harvard and Dartmouth to its home turf. On Friday, the Quakers (7-7 overall) square off on Hunter Lott Courts against the Crimson, a young team with a tradition of dominance in the Ancient Eight. Penn will face the Big Green on Saturday. If records are any indication of what the Quakers should expect, then Harvard would unquestionably be the tougher foe. The Crimson have climbed to a No. 40 ITA national ranking and currently stand at 2-0 in the Ivy League. In contrast, the Big Green have yet to win an Ivy match this season and are coming off an 0-7 Ancient Eight performance last year. Of course, records never tell the entire story -- especially when all the Ivy teams are so close in ability. "Harvard has been the barometer of the best team in the Ivy League year in and year out," Penn coach Mark Riley said. "But -- I've been saying this all season -- all the teams seem to be on the same level." Dartmouth's performance so far this season is indicative of just how tight the Ivy League title race is. Last weekend, the Big Green barely missed upsetting Columbia, losing 4-3 to last year's Ivy champions. Dartmouth's other Ivy loss was also relatively close, as Cornell edged the Big Green by a 5-2 margin. Indeed, none of the Ivy League matches played so far this spring have been blowouts. And with each team meeting only once this season, every win means that much more in the overall conference standings. After last weekend's disappointing losses to Yale and Brown, the Red and Blue enter this weekend's matches in a precarious position. "There's a sense of urgency now," Penn senior co-captain Rob Pringle said. "We still have the opportunity to salvage the Ivy season, but it has to happen immediately." And while they undoubtedly wish they could turn back time, the Quakers agree that there's no time to dwell on the past. "We can't change what happened [last weekend]," Penn junior Brian Barki said. "We just have to focus on doing well this weekend."
The Penn men's tennis team arrived at the Princeton Invitational last fall with its rackets, its uniforms and an upbeat mentality. But something was conspicuously missing -- a coach. The Quakers had yet to fill the void left by the resignation of their former coach Gordie Ernst at the end of the spring season. Thus, the responsibility of holding the team together fell on the shoulders of senior co-captains Eric Sobotka and Rob Pringle. It was a daunting task for anyone, but the two veterans kept a calm head in handling the challenge. "You don't see a lot of collegiate teams rolling up in a van with eight dudes and no coach," Pringle said. "But everyone lifted their intensity. We did well and it was fun." Playing without a coach was just another obstacle in the duo's somewhat tumultuous collegiate careers. But, by then, Pringle and Sobotka were used to adversity. The co-captains were part of a large freshman class that came to Penn during a rebuilding year, but they arrived under very different circumstances. Sobotka was heavily recruited, while Pringle primarily chose Penn for its academics. It was only later that Pringle decided to continue his tennis career at Penn. Adversity first struck the pair when they were sophomores, as Gene Miller, Penn's tennis coach at the time, left the program. At the same time, the team's dedication and cohesiveness rapidly eroded. As a team, Penn was struggling, but individually, Pringle was waging a battle of his own. After a tough year adjusting to the rigors of collegiate competition, Pringle sustained a stress fracture in his back, an injury that took him out of competition for six months. The time off was a devastating blow to Pringle's steady improvement. The road back seemed all uphill, and Pringle often wondered if the effort was worth it. But through hard work and perseverance, he would re-establish his place in the line-up and record a 3-1 mark in Ivy League matches his junior year. "It's very easy to get discouraged when things aren't going well," Sobotka said. "But Rob was working harder than anyone else out there. It was an unbelievable turn-around. Unbelievable perseverance." Finally, things appeared to be looking up for the Quakers. In the fall of 1999, the team welcomed transfer Fanda Stejskal and freshman Ryan Harwood -- along with Ernst, its new coach. Ernst's reign, however, was short-lived. He departed after only two years. "We could have fallen apart completely, without direction," Penn junior Brian Barki said, referring to Ernst's departure. "But Rob and Eric got us organized." Indeed, the Quakers more than held together -- in some respects, they flourished. Penn advanced three players to the quarterfinals at the Princeton Invitational and recorded multiple victories over tough competitors from rival Ivy League programs. "I'm proud of the way we both responded, and how the team responded," Sobotka said. "When you put a lot of time into something and it works out, it's a good feeling." While Pringle and Sobotka largely credit their teammates for the Red and Blue's success, there is no question the pair played an integral role in keeping the team organized -- and in helping the Quakers adjust to the arrival of Mark Riley, who replaced Ernst at the end of September. "I just know that everything was intact when I got here," Riley said. "[Eric and Rob] were really helpful in helping me learn some of the personalities of the team and I've involved them in decision-making, which I haven't done with team leaders in the past." Perhaps what makes Pringle and Sobotka such an effective duo is their different styles and viewpoints, both on and off the court. Sobotka is fiery and impulsive -- a baseliner known for his intense and stingy style of play. Because he played at the No. 1 singles spot his sophomore year and at every spot in the line-up since, teammates admire Sobotka's selflessness and team-first attitude. "Eric has such a strong mentality," sophomore Harwood said. "Whatever coach though was best, he agreed with -- because he has that inherent quality of being a captain." Pringle, meanwhile, is no-nonsense and methodical, relying on a big serve and hard work to make up for where innate talent falls short. But while their styles may differ, the one thing they share is their passion and devotion to their team and to the game of tennis. "His love for the game really shines through every time he steps on the court," Pringle said of Sobotka. "I really respect the way he approaches the game." Sobotka, however, disagrees -- as usual. "He's talking about my passion, but really Rob's had one of the most admirable careers I can think of," Sobotka said. "I may have learned more from Rob than from most of my classes," Sobotka added with a smile. But while Sobotka and Pringle may not always concur, their teammates agree that they are more than just inspirational. "Eric and Rob are the heart and soul of the team and they compliment each other perfectly," Harwood said. "They are very big symbols of Penn men's tennis and will be even after they leave. Whoever is captain next year will know how to do it because of them."
After a tough weekend during which the Penn men's tennis team dropped two close matches to Ivy League rivals, the Quakers now find themselves staring at a long uphill battle. Penn (7-7, 0-2 Ivy League) lost, 4-3, to Yale on Friday, and 5-2 to Brown on Saturday. But there still exists parity among the three teams, as indicated by the large number of tie-breakers and third-sets in both matches. In the end, however, things just didn't go the Quakers' way. Penn started off well against Yale (13-2, 1-1), as junior Fanda Stejskal and sophomore Ryan Harwood picked up a win at No. 1 doubles and the Quakers were leading 5-3 in the No. 2 doubles match. But Yale came back to win the second doubles match, 8-6, and posted a 8-5 win at No. 3 to take the doubles point. In singles action, the Quakers got an easy win from junior Brian Barki, who defeated the Elis' No. 3, David Goldman, 7-6, 6-1. However, the rest of the Penn line-up did not fare so well. At No. 1, Stejskal dropped a tough match to Yale's Steve Berke. Berke took last season off to compete in professional tournaments. The Quakers lost two squeakers at No. 2 and No.4. The Elis' Greg Royce edged Harwood, 7-6, 7-6, and Penn senior co-captain Rob Pringle fell, 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, after earning a match point in the second set. Having clinched the win, the Elis' defaulted their No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches after the first set in order to keep their players fresh for the next day's action against Princeton. The match against Brown (9-7, 1-1) unfolded in much the same way for Penn. After losing the doubles point, the Quakers got wins from Stejskal and senior co-captain Eric Sobotka but lost their other four single matches. Again, each match was closely contested, with Brown capitalizing on more of the big points. "We had a lot of opportunities, but we didn't convert," Penn tennis coach Mark Riley said of both matches. "We played nine tie-breakers and only won two, so there goes the match right there." With the teams in the Ivy League so close in terms of ability, Riley believes that the Quakers are in for more of the same high level of competition. And while the Quakers are disappointed with last weekend's outcome, they still have high hopes for the season. "We dug ourselves a bit of a hole," Sobotka said. "Our backs are up against a wall now. But by no means are we counting ourselves out. I have all the confidence in the world that we can turn things around." The Quakers won't have to wait long to prove that they are indeed still very much in the Ivy League race. They next face Harvard on Friday and Dartmouth on Saturday at the Lott tennis courts.
It's all about the Ivies. That's what any of the members of the Penn men's tennis team will tell you. And that's why playing well this weekend means so much to the Quakers. The Red and Blue (7-5) will travel to New England this weekend to take on Yale (12-1) and Brown (8-6) in their first Ivy League match-ups of the season. While the Quakers defeated both the Elis and Bears last spring, the margin of victory was slim in both cases. Penn beat Yale, 5-2, and Brown, 4-3. "We expect two very well-prepared teams," Penn sophomore Ryan Harwood said. "Both teams are much improved from last year, and they're out to prove something. The big test is to see how far we've come from the fall and see where we are." At the No. 1 position, Penn junior Fanda Stejskal will likely take on the Elis' Steve Berke, who took last year off to play in professional events as an amateur. The return of Berke helped the Elis notch an impressive win over New Mexico, one of the top programs in the country and a team that edged the Quakers in a heartbreaker earlier this season. The Bears, meanwhile, have a young team, with only one senior and one junior heading the line-up. Thus, the outcome of either of Penn's matches this weekend is anyone's guess. "There might not have been this much parity [in the Ivy League] in the past 10 years," Brown's head coach John Croboy said. "I wouldn't be surprised if it went 4-3 or 3-4 either way." According to Stejskal, the matches won't necessarily be decided by skill alone. "There's not too much of a talent differential," Stejskal said. "It's more about desire to win or lack of motivation. But motivation won't be a problem. It's always there in the Ivies." For each of the teams in the Ancient Eight, there's no question that the matches this weekend will be crucial in setting the tone for the season. With the Ivy League teams only facing each other once per season and no postseason tournament to decide the winner of the Ivy title, getting off to a strong start in the conference is a huge advantage in terms of final standings. This is especially true for the Quakers, a squad matched very evenly with Yale and Brown -- their first Ivy opponents of the season. "In the Ivies, Yale, Penn and Brown are the middle of the pack," Harwood said. "Whoever comes out on top this weekend will be competing with Princeton and Harvard for the title. "I'm expecting a very, very intense weekend of a roller coaster of emotions."
For the four members of the Penn women's fencing team who advanced to the National Collegiate Fencing Championships, last weekend was a bit of a disappointment. Coming off a Cinderella season in which the underdog Quakers silenced their disbelievers on more than one occasion, senior Kari Coley and sophomores Lauren Staudinger, Kim Linton and Christina Verigan hoped to continue their success on the national stage. But while all contributed respectable performances to the Quaker's seventh-place overall finish, each knew she was capable of more. Foilist Lauren Staudinger took 21st after a streaky two days of competition. Following a slow start, the sophomore finished the first day strong, placing 14th in a field of 24. However, she was unable to maintain her intensity from Saturday and her final placement suffered. "You have to be 100 percent on both days or it's really hard to make it up because everyone there is so good," Staudinger said. "I was feeling strong after the first day, but then you have to start all over again the next day. I don't think I was on, and that caused a chain reaction of bad performances." In her first trip to the NCAA Championships, Verigan overcame initial feelings of intimidation and awe to finish 18th in the sabre competition. "The gym was so big and the names were so huge," Verigan said. "But I think I did OK for a first outing." Penn coach Dave Micahnik was satisfied with Verigan's effort in a field he called "very varied in style and weapon." "I thought she held up well," Micahnik said. "Her fencing is still on a big up-curve, and she'll be back next year." Meanwhile, Coley and Linton placed 11th and 17th, respectively, in the epee competition. Coley's finish was good enough to earn her All-American honors for the third time in three trips to NCAAs. "Of all three NCAAs that I've been to, this was the toughest competition," Coley said. "The field was very even. The difference between first and 11th was a few bouts, and the difference between eighth and 11th was a few touches." While Coley took a little while to get her engine running before finishing strong, Linton fell to the opposite fate. Going into the second day of competition, she was an impressive eighth, but was unable to sustain that high level of play. "I hit a mental barrier," Linton said. "I was fencing scared. I was scared to mess up, and you can't do that." Though the Quakers all wish they could have done a little better, none can argue with the fact that the season has been an overall success. And with only Coley graduating, the future looks bright for the Penn team. "The prospects for next year are good," Micahnik said. "We will be a lot more experienced though we will be losing Kari. This was her farewell.... She did well and she went out a winner. And we're going to miss her."
After a disappointing showing at last year's National Collegiate Fencing Championships, Penn sophomore foilist Lauren Staudinger and sophomore epeeist Kim Linton are a year older and wiser and ready to go for broke this time around. They, along with senior epeeist Kari Coley and sophomore sabre Christina Verigan, will represent the Quakers at the NCAA championships this weekend at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside. Coming off a strong winter season, which included a win over three-time Ivy League Champion Princeton, the Quakers are looking for a final bit of glory. And there's certainly no place like NCAAs to make that final statement, as the competition draws the country's top 25 fencers in each weapon. A fencers' standing at the tournament's end is based on her win-loss record in round robin competition over the two days of competition, with the exception of the top four fencers, who face off for the title. Penn fencing coach Dave Micahnik believes each of his fencers has the potential to do very well at NCAAs. "All could be in the upper half of the field," Micahnik said. "We're certainly not going to go in and lay down for anyone." Linton and Coley, who finished 18th and 12th in epee, respectively, in their last trips to NCAAs, have talked in practice about what they expect from the epee field. They agree that a tough pool of opponents awaits them, but that doesn't mean they discount their chances to come out on top. "Winning would be nice," Coley said. "Anything is possible, and that's what I strive for, but I won't be disappointed if I fence my best." Linton is especially eager to show what she's capable of after performing below her own expectations in last year's NCAAs. "Last year I was happy to be there... I wasn't mentally prepared to win, and I've been pissed about it ever since," Linton said. "This year I'm going in bitch-mode. I'm going for blood." After placing 22nd in foil at NCAAs last year, Staudinger shares this sentiment. "I wasn't happy with the result, and I said to myself that if I ever go again, I'm going to be prepared so I'm not disappointed," Staudinger said. "If I have a good mentality and really drive myself, I can beat the people I should beat and the ones who are close." Meanwhile, Verigan is just happy to be going to her first NCAA Championships. She only wishes that the other members of the sabre squad, who just finished an impressive winter campaign, could be there with her. "It's going to be rough without Abby [Lifter] and Mindy [Nguyen] there because we function so well as a squad," Verigan said. "It's my first time on my own." However, Verigan is confident that she will hold her own in a field of familiar opponents -- she has faced many of them previously this season -- if she can fence at the level at which she has fenced all season. The Quakers know the weekend will be strenuous, with "basically continuous fencing all day," according to Verigan. But they say that they are up for the challenge and ready to put the finishing touches on an already stellar season.
The Penn men's tennis team took on a pair of local programs Wednesday at Levy Tennis Pavilion and came up with two easy shut outs. The Quakers blanked both Haverford and Swarthmore, 7-0, in matches designed not only to keep the team fresh but also to give the bottom of the Penn line-up some playing time. Against the Fords, the Quakers did not drop a set. Penn co-captain senior Rob Pringle, returning after some time off due to a foot injury, cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles, while junior Brian Barki added a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at the No. 2 singles position. Juniors Kevin Strouse and Jared Corby also recorded easy victories for the Red and Blue against Haverford. Meanwhile, Penn freshmen John Boswell and Allan Haldeman both picked up solid victories in their collegiate debuts. Boswell dropped only one game en route to a 6-1, 6-0 victory, while Haldeman had more of a struggle before downing his opponent, 6-4, 7-5. "Winning my first singles match was a big confidence booster," Haldeman said. The Quakers had no trouble disposing of the Garnets either. Penn senior co-captain Eric Sobotka filled at the No.1 singles position and defeated Swarthmore's Pete Schilla, 6-3, 6-0. The Quakers' No. 2 through No. 4 singles players also did not drop a set in their matches. However, the Garnets proved to be a bit tougher at the bottom of the line-up. Corby and Haldeman had to go to tie-breakers after splitting sets, according to the shortened format. But the Quakers prevailed in both matches to earn a singles sweep. Penn's lone loss of the day came at No. 3 doubles, where Boswell and Haldeman were defeated 8-3 by Swarthmore's Justin Singer and Frank Visciano. But the wins from the No. 1 and No. 2 spots were enough to give the Quakers the doubles point and the shut-out victory. "Everyone went in there and took care of business like we wanted to and expected to," Strouse said. "We're all gearing up for the Ivy season, so matches like this keep us in shape." The Quakers will travel to Florida over spring break to take on a quartet of schools the Red and Blue have never played before -- Florida Gulf Coast, East Tennessee, Florida Southern and Northwood. In addition to keeping them sharp, the Quakers also expect the trip to help acclimate them to outdoor conditions in preparation for the rest of the season.
After a season full of pleasant surprises, the Penn women's fencing team finished its winter campaign rather fittingly at the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championships last weekend. In the team competition, the Quakers moved up one spot from last year, coming in fourth place in a field of 14 teams despite not fencing with their regular lineup. The Penn epee squad was short one fencer after senior Kari Coley, who took first place in her last trip to IFAs two years ago, and freshman reserve Keren Freide were both unable to fence due to last-minute emergencies. Freshman Karen Siegal, a foilist who had never picked up an epee before, filled the third epee spot and fenced well enough to help the Quakers place sixth in the epee competition. The Quakers' foil squad also finished sixth in the first day of competition. But the real story of the meet was Penn's sabre squad, which placed an impressive second in its weapon. All three Quakers' sabres advanced to the individual competition the next day -- a feat matched only by powerhouse St. John's, which ran away with the team title. "The sabre squad has shown a tremendous up curve in the later part of the season," Penn fencing coach Dave Micahnik said. "They've done extremely well." After spending much of last season and the early part of this season adjusting to new weapons and new opponents, the Penn sabre's second-place finish completes what has been a cinderella story for the squad. "I think we surprised everyone when we took home silver," Penn captain and sabre Mindy Nguyen said. "When I found out where we had placed, I can honestly say it was the best fencing moment of my life." The Penn sabres continued their reign of success in the individual event. Nguyen finished fourth, sophomore Christina Verigan placed sixth, and junior Abby Lifter took 12th. The Quakers also advanced at least one fencer in both epee and foil to the second day of competition. In epee, Penn sophomore Kim Linton finished the individual competition in sixth place, while Quakers freshman Liz Kreideman placed 10th. Meanwhile, Penn sophomore Lauren Staudinger took seventh in the foil competition. While much of this young Quakers squad will be returning next year, the team is still sad that its sensational season has come to an end. "Our sweet victory is mixed with sentiments of our supportive seniors who have done so much for us," Nguyen said. "We're so happy we were able to close our season off in a wonderful way."