POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Drew University fencing teams turned in their finest performances to date in the 2021-2022 season on Sunday at the Vassar College Invitational.

The men's team registered a 12-1 record over the course of the event. Their efforts included some impressive wins over conference opponents in the Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing
Association (MACFA) and the Northeast Fencing Conference (NFC).

The team came out hot with a lopsided wins against MACFA opponents Cornell University (19-8) and Yeshiva University (24-3) and another against Denison University (26-1). The team then struggled slightly in a 15-12 loss to Stevens Institute but immediately rebounded with wins against MACFA opponents, including Division I Lafayette College (19-8), Hunter College (27-0) and the United States Military Academy (21-6). The men also sent a strong signal to the NFC with a convincing 16-11 victory against another Division I opponent, Sacred Heart University. 

The men's team closed out the day with second victories against Army (22-5), Hunter (25-2) and Lafayette (18-9) and a pair of wins against host (and NFC opponent) Vassar (15-12 and 20-7).

"We split our team up into separate groups for the day. We wanted to get as much playing time for everyone as the scoring would allow," said Drew Head Coach Vincent Paragano. "We were all very pleased with what our men's teams were able to do against some pretty strong opponents even though we were at 'half strength' for those matches.

"We do still have a lot of work to do to be ready for the rigors of the MACFA and NFC seasons, which will be starting soon," he added.

Zachary Wolin (14-4) and Eric Dreitlein (12-2) led the Rangers' sabre onslaught. Along the way, Dreitlein and his sabre line teammates Karl Topf (6-4) and Jake KurtzFreilich (8-3) all recorded their 100th career wins.

The epee line was led by strong showings by Daniel Stevens (11-2) and Lucas Alfaiate (12-3). Meanwhile, the foil lineup relied on sophomore talent with Charles Daum (13-4) and Brandon Mundahl (12-4) recording their career-best days.

The men's team will take its 32-6 season record and 10-match win streak into the final competition weekend of the semester. The team will once again split its ranks with one group staying home to take on MACFA opponents New Jersey Institute of Technology, Stevens, Hunter, Yeshiva, and Army. The other group will be returning to Vassar College for the annual Matt Lampell Invitational.

On the women's side, Drew continued its winning ways by registering a 4-2 day at the Vassar Invitational.

The Rangers rebounded from morning losses to Cornell (25-2) and Vassar (16-11) with victories against Denison (20-7), Army (18-9), Haverford College (18-9), and Yeshiva (26-1).

The epee squad was by far the most productive with solid performances coming from freshman Emilie Reitinger (10-5) and from 2021 Division III All American Caira Blake (7-1). Freshman saberist Sophie Gajowskyj turned in nine wins for the saber squad while freshman foilist Cameryn Brown chipped in seven wins.

"We relied on epee to keep us in the matches all day long," said Paragano. "Once we are able to get foil and saber to contribute to their fullest, we should be in good shape for the conference-play part of the season. We have been making adjustments on the fly to those two squads and have been reinforcing tactical lessons. Those tactical lessons should start bearing fruit very soon."

The women now hold a 15-12 season record. They will travel to Vassar once again for their final event of the fall semester where they will be competing in the Matt Lampell Invitational.