This year, the goal of two Ivy Championships is very much in reach. With only a week and a half until championship weekend, both the men and the women fencers are confident they can pull off the double. 

It has been five years since 2014 graduate Michael Mills won the men’s sabre competition at the NCAA Fencing Championships. And, five years later, the next chance to carry out Mills’ legacy may be his own cousin.

Three-for-one deals are never bad. That is what fencing fans get whenever they watch a match. Though a first time watcher or casual fan may have trouble noticing the differences, fencing’s three forms — sabre, epee, and foil — are all very nuanced.

Coach Slava Danilov, assistant coach for the men’s and women’s fencing teams, provides a unique spark to the program. Danilov, now in his fourth year with the Quakers, is part of an excellent staff that includes head coach Andy Ma and other assistants Adi Nott and Randall LeMaster. Men’s senior epee and captain Zsombor Garzo described Danilov in one phrase. “Extremely competitive.”

A sense of community, strong brotherhood and sisterhood, and the pride that comes with being a part of something bigger than yourself are all reasons students join groups at Penn. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that student-athletes highlight these reasons to not only justify their involvement with sports, but also their involvement with Greek life.

Mark Andrew is shattering school and Ivy League records — and he’s still only a junior. His trademark event, the individual medley, is where he has seen his greatest success — constantly writing and rewriting the 200 and 400-yard IM records. 

That’s why, after losing to perennial powerhouse Trinity, Penn men’s and women’s squash are confident going into Wednesday’s match against Princeton that they can both bring home crucial Ivy League wins.

In this week's edition of Is Stat So?, track and field continues to break school records, women's basketball dominated a completely overmatched Gwynedd Mercy, and gymnastics excelled on floor.

The Red and Blue faced three conference opponents in Bucknell, Binghamton, and Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, going 2-1 on the day. The three matches serve as a nice tune up for the fast-approaching conference tournament.  

On Friday against West Chester, Penn swimming showed up for the occasion. The men took a 175-113 decision, and the women won 169-122, as the Red and Blue concluded the dual-meet portion of their season.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the Quakers (13-6, 1-3 Big 5) eventually closing out the Hawks (9-11, 0-3) with a dominant surge early in the second half, after going into halftime up by only three. Here are the five biggest takeaways from the game.

In their final Big 5 contest of the season, the Red and Blue finally broke their in-town losing skid, edging local rival Saint Joseph’s, 67-56, for their first Big 5 win of the season.

After a major victory last weekend at Scheer pool, Penn swimming and diving is looking to continue its winnings against the West Chester Rams this Friday. As it is the Quakers' last dual meet of the 2017-18 season, Penn is hoping to end on a high note before the finale at the Ivy League Championships in February. 

The Quakers (12-6, 0-3 Big 5) have gone winless in the famed Philadelphia circuit, dropping their first three contests to Villanova, La Salle, and Temple. On Saturday, the Red and Blue will get one final chance to avoid a Big 5 shutout when they host crosstown rival St. Joseph’s (9-9, 0-2). 

A major part of the Big 5's special nature is the unparalleled relationships that the different coaches in the conference have with one another. These relationships, based on mutual respect, competitiveness, and shared experiences, create one of the most remarkable coaching fellowships in the country.

That team in the mid-80s got its season off to a prolific 10-0 start, and eventually finished the season with a 10-2 record. The men of 2018 currently stand at an 8-2 record, are ranked No. 5 in the nation, and are showing plenty of signs that their season can eclipse that of the 1985 team.

In large part due to freshman phenom Andrew Douglas, Penn men's squash is off to its best start since 1985. Douglas, who has played at the No. 1 spot all season, has come in and made an instant impact. In fact, the Quakers (8-2, 2-0 Ivy) are currently ranked No. 5 in the nation.