COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior Matthew Gebbett's fifth-place finish highlighted the opening day as the Cleveland State University fencing team opened action in the Midwest Conference Championships with the individual portion of the competition inside Ohio State's French Field House.
Seven other Vikings posted top-20 finishes Saturday, including all four of the CSU's athletes in the men's epee portion.
Gebbett was exempt from the opening round-robin pool play and thus jumped right into direct elimination action in the saber event. After earning a bye in the opening round of the bracket, Gebbett won three consecutive matches against opponents from Bowling Green, Michigan and Ohio State with relative ease. He fell in the quarterfinals to the eventual third-place finisher from Ohio State by a score of 15-9.
In the men's epee portion, freshman Vincenzo Trovato finished 11th, sophomore Griffin Winterman was 12th, freshman Burton Hirschman was 15th and sophomore Logan Shoemaker was 17th among the field of 80 competitors. Hirschman was seeded 27th but finished with a higher place as he went 5-1 in pool play and won his first two direct elimination matches. Trovato and Winterman also won twice in direct elimination.
Sophomore Adam Mack was Cleveland State's top finisher in the men's foil event, placing 17th. Sophomore Colton Porter was 27th in the same event.
Junior Sarah Mok was the Vikings' top women's finisher, as she placed 16th in the foil event. She went 5-1 in pool action before winning two direct elimination matches.
Senior Rachel Grabowski was CSU's top finisher in saber action, as she went a perfect 6-0 in pool play before winning her first direct elimination match.
Senior Simiola Babayode was CSU's lone competitor in the women's epee event, where she picked up three wins to finish 35th.
Cleveland State will continue action in the Midwest Conference Championships Sunday with the team portion of the competition.
CSU Final Placings
Men's Epee:
Vincenzo Trovato – 11th
Griffin Winterman – 12th
Burton Hirschman – 15th
Logan Shoemaker – 17th
Men's Foil:
Adam Mack – 17th
Colton Porter – 27th
Logan Eskew – 31st
Alex Hoirup – 36th
Men's Saber:
Matthew Gebbett – 5th
Aidan Gillespie – 36th
Women's Epee:
Simiola Babayode – 35th
Women's Foil:
Sarah Mok – 16th
Caitlin Thompson – 33rd
Alexandra Kremer – 47th
Women's Saber:
Rachel Grabowski – 17th
Jennifer Wisniewski – 34th
Heather Weiss – 40th