Nov. 4, 2008

Contact: Greg Murphy

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Cleveland State fencing teams opened their 2008-09 seasons over the weekend at the Ohio State Invitational. The men's squad went 6-5, while the women's team posted an 0-10-1 mark in the event.

"The results may not have been there, but I thought both teams performed very well," head coach Andy Tulleners said. "It was a great event to start the season and we were able to identify where we need to focus our attention to help improve the teams."

The men's foil team went 10-1 overall as Liran Gross went 31-2 to lead them. In addition, Stephen Montgomery posted a 24-5 mark with the foil.

The epee squad was 8-3, led by John Marshall's 17-9 record. In addition, Jason Heiss finished the event with a 17-11 mark as the lone sabreist for the Vikings over the weekend. It represented the best start to his career.

The men's squad earned victories over Bowling Green, Illinois, Iowa, Oberlin, Purdue and Xavier.

The women's team was competing on a short roster and was led by the epee team that went 6-5. Brooke Snyder led them with a 17-9 mark as it was one of the strongest starts for the women's epee squad in the last several years.

"I have to commend assistant coach Vincent Cianciola for the work he has done with our epee squad," Tulleners said.

Stephanie Lee, the lone women's foilist went 10-20 in her first collegiate action after walking onto the squad just six weeks earlier.

Both teams will take an extended break from competition before hosting the Cleveland State Invitational on Jan. 25. CSU will face Case Western, Bowling Green and Xavier at the event in Woodling Gym.