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. 

The junior guard is the textbook definition of a hustle and grit player. She gives 100 percent effort on every single play and isn't afraid to sacrifice her body to get a teammate an extra look. In fact, she does it without hesitation several times each game.

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.

Penn women’s basketball freshman center Eleah Parker’s newest addition to an already long list of weekly awards puts her in record breaking territory. Her latest Ivy League Rookie of the Week award – her sixth – marks the most since her frontcourt companion and senior Michelle Nwokedi earned six in 2014-2015.

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.

Behind the strong play of the junior guard, Penn women's basketball defeated Big 5 foe Temple on Wednesday before blowing out Gwynedd Mercy on Sunday. 

But the highlight of the game wasn’t the score differential, but rather Ross, the Quakers’ senior point guard, who broke the Penn women’s basketball assist record with a career total of 429 and counting.

A lot of people would be bothered by the scoffs and dirty looks that come from wearing an opposing team’s jersey in Philly. But not the Patriots fans. In fact, they seem to enjoy it.

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.

This time around, Super Bowl season actually matters for Philly, and Penn is getting in on the fun. As the Philadelphia Eagles get set to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, Penn’s campus is filled with fervent support for the Birds. 

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.