CLEVELAND, Ohio – Twenty one student-athletes from the Cleveland State University fencing team will continue their postseason push this weekend by competing in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
The Midwest Regional is taking place this Saturday, March 7, inside Detroit Mercy's Calihan Hall. The women's competition slated to get underway at 9:00 a.m. with the men's competition to follow at approximately 12:30 p.m. Live results will be available by clicking here.
Cleveland State has posted one of the best seasons in recent memory, and the contingent headed to Regionals is no exception. The Vikings qualified a school record 21 individuals to this weekend's competition, including the maximum amount permitted on the men's side (12).
The following Viking men qualified for the NCAA Regional event: Brodee Bocek (epee), Lucas Bolton (foil), Dante Centuori (saber), Paul DiVenti (foil), Jared Felker (epee), Declan Forth (saber), Jakarri Kent (saber), Patrick Ritchie (epee), Ahmad Taqi (foil), Will Waters (foil), John Wenger (foil) and Ian Wu (epee).
The following Viking women qualified for the NCAA Regional event: Abigail Barr (epee), Ilyssa Freiburger (epee), Karina Grossl (epee), Gabriella Hirsch (foil), Maeve Kozak (epee), Claire Maltman (foil), Dorian Pichola (saber), Shelbie Seeberg (foil) and Jennifer Wisniewski (saber).
Taqi is the highest seeded Viking in his discipline entering the Regional, as he is seeded fourth in men's foil. Bolton will be looking to put together a second straight strong performance as he claimed runner-up honors in the individual men's foil event at the Midwest Conference Championships.
The regional will consist of pool play in each weapon, with total wins determining placement. Ties will be broken first by indicator then by touches scored.
In addition to Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy, Denison (women only), Lawrence, Northwestern (women only), Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wayne State will compete in the regional. Notre Dame and Ohio State are each ranked among the top five nationally in both genders while the Northwestern women are also among the top 10.
The two primary factors for determining selections for the NCAA Championships are the Fencer's Seeding Factor (FSF), which is weighted 40%, and the individual's placement at NCAA regional competition, which is weighted 60%. The FSF measures a fencer's performance against his or her opponents during regular-season competition.
The Midwest Region has the following allocations to the NCAA Championships this year: Women's Epee: 4, Women's Foil: 5, Women's Sabre: 4, Men's Epee: 4, Men's Foil: 4, Men's Sabre: 4. There are also two at-large selections in each event that are made on a national basis.
Any Vikings that advance onward from the Regional competition will be making a return trip to Detroit. The Titans are hosting the 2020 NCAA Fencing Championships March 19-22 in the TCF Center. Selections to the Championships will be announced Tuesday, March 10. A maximum of 24 participants in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships, with not more than two per event from one institution.
