Columbia Lions fencing
| Columbia Lions fencing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1898 |
| Athletic director | M. Dianne Murphy |
| Head coach | Michael Aufrichtig 2nd season, 21–16 (.568) |
| Home stadium | Blue Gym |
| Location | Manhattan, NY |
| League | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Ivy League |
| All-time record | 1068–503–9 (.679) |
| National Titles | 21 (End of season 2016) |
| Conference titles | 41[1] |
| Rivalries | Harvard Crimson fencing |
| All-Americans | 213[2] |
| Fight song | Roar, Lion, Roar |
| Mascot | Roar-ee the Lion |
| Website | GoColumbiaLions.com |
The Columbia Lions fencing team is the intercollegiate fencing team for Columbia University located in Manhattan, New York. The team competes in the Ivy League within Division I of the NCAA. The university first fielded a team in 1898, under the leadership of coach James Murray. The team is currently coached by Michael Aufrichtig.
The Blue Gym (or University Gym) is home to the Columbia Lion fencing team, located within the Dodge Physical Fitness Center on campus.
History[]
The team was founded in 1898, and has had some noteworthy successes. The team has captured the NCAA national title 16 times[citation needed], most recently in 2019. It also won Intercollegiate Fencing Association national championships in 1898, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1919 and 1934. The team has also won 52 Ivy League Championships, capturing both the Men's and Women's titles outright in 2019.
Fencing for the team, Norman C. Armitage won the Intercollegiate Fencing Association saber championship in 1928, Emily Jacobson won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2005, and Daria Schneider won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2007.[3]
The team has produced a number of Olympians, including five in 2012.[4] Columbia grad Alen Hadzic was named to the 2021 Olympic team, but was suspended by the United States Center for SafeSport due to findings of an investigation following allegations of rape and other sexual misconduct; an arbitrator later reduced his sanction, allowing him to go to Tokyo.[5][6][7][8] Hadzic had previously been suspended by Columbia University for a year for sexual misconduct, while he had been fencing for the Columbia team, as a result of the findings of a Title IX investigation.[9][5]
Notable former fencers[]
Notable alumni include:
- Norman C. Armitage (1907-1972), 6-time Olympic fencer
- Jacqueline Dubrovich (born 1994)
- Sherif Farrag (born 1987), Olympic fencer
- Joel Glucksman (born 1949), Olympic fencer
- Emily Jacobson (born 1985), Olympic fencer
- Dan Kellner (born 1976), Olympic fencer
- James Margolis (born 1936), Olympic fencer
- James Melcher (born 1939), Olympic fencer
- Nzingha Prescod (born 1992), Olympic fencer
- Nicole Ross (born 1989), Olympic fencer
- Daria Schneider (born 1987)
- Erinn Smart (born 1980), Olympic fencer
- Jeff Spear (born 1988), Olympic fencer
- Cornel Wilde (1912–1989)
- James Leighman Williams (born 1985), Olympic fencer
Year-by-year results[]
Men's fencing[]
| Year | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Ivy Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | 12 | 5 | .706 | 2nd | 5th |
| 2006–2007 | 11 | 2 | .846 | 1st (Tie) | 3rd |
| 2007–2008 | 12 | 3 | .800 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2008–2009 | 8 | 8 | .500 | 2nd | 4th |
| 2009–2010 | 3 | 15 | .167 | 6th | 7th |
| 2010–2011 | 2 | 13 | .133 | 6th | 7th |
| 2011–2012 | 8 | 10 | .444 | 3rd (Tie) | 8th |
| 2012–2013 | 16 | 8 | .667 | 2nd (Tie) | 7th[10] |
| 2013–2014 | 27 | 3 | .900 | 1st (Tie) | 7th |
| 2014–2015 | 17 | 6 | .739 | 1st (Tie) | 1st |
| 2015–2016 | 19 | 6 | .684 | 1st (Tie) | 1st |
| 2016–2017 | 25 | 6 | .760 | 1st (Tie) | 3rd |
| 2017–2018 | 20 | 7 | .650 | 1st (Tie) | 2nd |
| 2018–2019 | 1st | 1st |
Women's fencing[]
| Year | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Ivy Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | 17 | 3 | .850 | 2nd | 5th |
| 2006–2007 | 14 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2007–2008 | 13 | 1 | .929 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2008–2009 | 14 | 3 | .824 | 2nd | 4th |
| 2009–2010 | 14 | 5 | .737 | 2nd | 7th |
| 2010–2011 | 10 | 5 | .667 | 2nd | 7th |
| 2011–2012 | 13 | 6 | .684 | 2nd | 8th |
| 2012–2013 | 22 | 4 | .846 | 2nd | 7th[11] |
| 2013–2014 | .846 | 3rd | 7th | ||
| 2014–2015 | 25 | 1 | .961 | 1st | 1st |
| 2015–2016 | 25 | 2 | .920 | 1st (Tie) | 1st |
| 2016–2017 | 31 | 2 | .935 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2017–2018 | 26 | 3 | .885 | 1st | 2nd |
| 2018–2019 | 1st | 1st |
References[]
- ^ All-Time Coaches, archived from the original on December 21, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
- ^ All-Time All-Americans, archived from the original on December 21, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
- ^ Ralph Hickok (April 1, 2010). "NCAA Fencing Champions". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- ^ Sherif Farrag '09 to Join Columbia Fencing Contingent in London, June 26, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
- ^ Jump up to: a b Brianna Sacks and Melissa Segura (July 23, 2021). "A Fencer Made It To The Olympics In Spite Of Multiple Accusations Of Sexual Assault. His Teammates Say The System Is Broken". BuzzFeed News.
- ^ Wiener, Talia (June 9, 2021). "MHS grad on Olympic fencing team suspended for alleged misconduct". Montclair Local News.
- ^ Longman, Jeré (July 22, 2021). "U.S. Olympic Fencer, Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Kept Apart From Team; Alen Hadzic of New Jersey is an alternate on the U.S. fencing team but has not been allowed to stay in the Olympic Village". The New York Times.
- ^ Josh Peter and Christine Brennan (July 22, 2021). "US fencer accused of sexual misconduct unhappy with treatment at Tokyo Olympics". USA Today.
- ^ "Law gives Congress more oversight of USOPC". ESPN. October 31, 2020.
- ^ 2012-13 Men's Fencing Standings, archived from the original on September 7, 2015, retrieved July 19, 2013
- ^ 2012-13 Women's Fencing Standings, archived from the original on September 8, 2015, retrieved July 19, 2013
External links[]
- Columbia Lions fencing
- Sports clubs established in 1898