Victories in the team and individual women’s saber events were the highlights of a strong overall performance by members of the Yellow Jacket Fencing Club (YJFC), which hosted and competed in the for the Southern Atlantic Conference (SAC) Championship on March 24-25.
The tournament, held at the CRC this year, featured club teams from 15 schools. Fencers competed in team and individual events in men’s and women’s épée, foil, and saber.
This year’s tournament marked the first time in several years that the YJFC had fielded teams in all six events. It was a notable step for the YJFC, which has seen growth among its ranks in recent years and had some 70 committed members as of the fall semester.
“The club has never been this big and never been able to field a full epee women’s team… our growth has accelerated,” said YJFC President Jeff Lumish.
The YJFC received its strongest performances from its saberists. The women’s saber team took first in the team competition after going undefeated in pool play and beating No. 8 William & Mary, No. 4 Swarthmore, and No. 2 Army in the direct elimination round. Senior Courtney Price and junior Emily Robey-Phillips finished first and second, respectively, in the individual competition.
In men’s saber, Tech took second place in the team competition. Entering the direct elimination round as the No. 8 seed, the team defeated No. 9 UGA and upset No. 1 Swarthmore but ultimately fell to No. 2 Army in the final. Tech picked up another victory in the individual saber competition, though, as freshman Chris Denecke took first place.
Other teams performed well in what was a strong all-around performance for the club. Men’s foil took third place and senior foilist Eric Lange took sixth place in individual play. Men’s foil finished fifth, and women’s épée and foil had respectable showings in their first team appearances at the SAC.