HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 5, 2015) – Freshman Natalia Dashnaw of the Drew University women's fencing team has been named an Eastern Women's Fencing Conference (EWFC) Woman of the Year Honorable Mention, announced by the conference today.
 
Dashnaw, a saber specialist for Rangers fencing, was the only freshman among the seven Honorable Mention winners. The other six were all upperclassmen while the EWFC Woman of the Year was awarded to senior Sienna Batzli of Stevens Institute of Technology.
 
The awards, implemented to annually recognize the fencers who best combine the triple standards of excellence in academics, success in athletics, and participation in extracurricular activities, were decided through a postseason poll of the EWFC's seven head coaches.
 
"Natalia was new to our program and was forced to overcome an injury," said interim head coach Vincent Paragano. "For her to have performed at the high level that she has this past season was a testament to her resilience. She worked hard to get back into the game."
 
In her first season for the Rangers, Dashnaw boasted a winning record at sabre. The up-and-coming college fencer continues to study neuroscience at Drew University.
 
The Eastern Women's Fencing Conference finished up its 15th season of matches this winter. Charter members City College of New York, Hunter College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Yeshiva University were joined by Drew University for the 2002-03 championships, Haverford College during the 2005-06 season, and Johns Hopkins University as of the 2007-08 campaign.