College Fencing Programs

[jspierre]

Is there a thread, or blog spot anywhere, where I can get unfiltered reviews of the various Div 1, II, III college fencing programs in the US? Am looking for thumbnail info on the programs, coaches names, divisions, strengths, weaknesses and views from folks who either came thru the college programs or has credible knowledge of these programs.

Its kind of easy to get info on the major fencing schools like Penn State, or Columbia, Northwesten or St. Johns, but some of the lesser known programs, the info trails off pretty steeply. For example, anyone know anything about Haverford's program or John Hopkins?

[CvilleFencer]

You are going to have a very hard time finding an unfiltered view. I would suggest contacting someone heavily involved in collegiate fencing and fairly impartial in nature such as Oiuyt here on the forums.

As for Haverford they are a solid program among the non-NCAA schools in the MACFA and NIWFA leagues but I am not sure how they play among the NCAA big dogs. I think of Coach Spencer mainly as a foil guy, but they do well in the other weapons also. http://www.haverfordathletics.com/sports/mfencing/index

Johns Hopkins is about the same story, very strong on the MACFA circuit and they currently have some very good saber fencers and as a result are doing well regionally. I don't know Coach Young at all, so I can't comment. http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/...fenc-body.html

[Allen Evans]

Might be a good project for someone to start.

Though this site doesn't seem totally inclusive or comprehensive.

A

[SJCFU#2]

Johns Hopkins is about the same story, very strong on the MACFA circuit and they currently have some very good saber fencers and as a result are doing well regionally.

Hopkins' men's team withdrew from MACFA a few years ago, supposedly to free up schedule dates for other events. AFAIK the women's team is still active in NIFWA (at least they back in March, when they hosted the NIFWA Championship).

[epeemike81]

A few questions...
1: Are you looking for a men's or women's program?
2: Approximately what level of fencer is the applicant? (points list or not and rating)
3 (and by far most important, imo): What is the applicant looking for from a non-fencing perspective from a college? Is there a specific program they'd like? If not, more generally are they looking for engineering? science? humanities?

In my experience most prospective students would be well served choosing their pool of schools based on fit of social life and academic programs rather than fencing (though depending on the applicants priorities, the fencing program clearly can/should play a role).

-m

[epeemike81]

You are going to have a very hard time finding an unfiltered view. I would suggest contacting someone heavily involved in collegiate fencing and fairly impartial in nature such as Oiuyt here on the forums.

lol! While I certainly highly value oiuyt's opinion on this and many other subjects, I'm sure he'd be the first to tell you that he by definition is NOT impartial. In fact, he's so not impartial that there are NCAA regulations governing when he can talk to applicants or parents.

-m

[Allex]

http://collegefencing360.com/library_of_links.html

This could be a start - although it seems like Pete has been busy with other projects lately.

[Allen Evans]

I've used this page on and off, but it's not up to date. Some of the links are broken or missing ,and there have been some personnel changes in the last year that the web site has not captured. Still, it's a start.

A

[AndrewH]

Well, I do have it on good authority that Duke sucks.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Well, I do have it on good authority that Duke sucks.

Sez the bitter young man with no fencing team appearing on the Rutgers NCAA sports website.

But nice heads up for jsp, Andrew. I'm sure he wants no part of a fencing team which has produced two individual national champions in the past three years, and which perennially leads the ACC in GPA and graduation rates.

Hangin' with those kinds of misfits is nothing but a pathway to perfidiousness .

[AndrewH]

Sorry Cap'n, it's an inside joke from a fairly popular website...

I got nothing against the Blue Devils, unless we're talking about basketball.

[Purple Fencer]

Sorry Cap'n, it's an inside joke from a fairly popular website...

I got nothing against the Blue Devils, unless we're talking about basketball.

I'm partial to the drum corps, myself...

[bigdawg2121]

Sorry Cap'n, it's an inside joke from a fairly popular website...

I got nothing against the Blue Devils, unless we're talking about basketball.

Don't back down Andrew. They do suck. Also you misspelled Dook.

[KD5MDK]

Don't back down Andrew. They do suck. Also you misspelled Dook.

I have this feeling that duke sucks is in the terms of service agreement somewhere.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Don't back down Andrew. They do suck. Also you misspelled Dook.

...sez the bitter young man faced with a bleak future seemingly extending into infinity, laden with endless hours of bone-crushing regret for having attended an inferior* North Carolina Institution of Higher Learning.

*granted, in football, Dook does, in fact, suck. There, I said it.

BTW: Nice recruiting effort at the bowl game by the Tar Heels. ;}

[Mac A. Bee]

Its kind of easy to get info on the major fencing schools like Penn State, or Columbia, Northwesten or St. John...anyone know anything about Haverford's program or John Hopkins?

...most prospective students would be well served choosing their pool of schools based on fit of social life and academic programs rather than fencing...

I would prioritize academics over social life, but otherwise epeemike speaks wisely. Hopefully, you've defined *what* you want to study before you search for *where*.

If you're considering Haverford, please consider Lafayette.

[dcrocket]

As for Haverford they are a solid program among the non-NCAA schools in the MACFA and NIWFA leagues but I am not sure how they play among the NCAA big dogs. http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/...fenc-body.html

Haverford is a varsity program, not a club. They had a number of fencers at the Regionals last year.

[Purple Fencer]

...sez the bitter young man faced with a bleak future seemingly extending into infinity, laden with endless hours of bone-crushing regret for having attended an inferior* North Carolina Institution of Higher Learning.

*granted, in football, Dook does, in fact, suck. There, I said it.

BTW: Nice recruiting effort at the bowl game by the Tar Heels. ;}

Not that YOU'RE biased a little bit, either!!

[bigdawg2121]

Haverford is a varsity program, not a club. They had a number of fencers at the Regionals last year.

I'm fairly sure that post was meant to express that Haverford does well against club teams not that they are one (though I found the wording decidedly strange as well).

Not that YOU'RE biased a little bit, either!!

No one pays Cap any attention. True story: I sat next to a lovely young lady on my way through Charlotte last night. Toward the end of our flight it came up that she was a Dook alumna*...within the time it took to put our seat backs up and stow our electronics and touching down she admitted that Dook sucks and she can't blame people for hating them**. Even the alumni know the truth; it's only whether they're willing to speak it.


*Yes; even I can admit that a lovely person or two comes from Dook occasionally.

**We also agreed that most of the people that hate them are inconsequential and to be ignored (*cough* MD, State *cough*). A begrudging but well earned respect is necessary for this level of rivalry.

[Purple Fencer]

No one pays Cap any attention.

You ARE aware that Cap's daughter goes to Duke, right? Hence my comment?