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Columbia Lions fencing
First season1898; 126 years ago (1898)
Athletic directorM. Dianne Murphy
Head coachMichael Aufrichtig
2nd season, 21–16 (.568)
Home stadium Blue Gym
Location Manhattan, NY
League NCAA Division I
Conference Ivy League
All-time record1068–503–9 (.679)
National Titles21 (End of season 2016)
Conference titles41 [1]
Rivalries Harvard Crimson fencing
All-Americans213 [2]
Fight song Roar, Lion, Roar
Mascot Roar-ee the Lion
Website GoColumbiaLions.com

The Columbia Lions fencing team is the intercollegiate fencing team for Columbia University located in Manhattan, New York City. The team competes in the Ivy League within Division I of the NCAA. The university first fielded a team in 1898, under the leadership of coach James Murray. The team is currently coached by Michael Aufrichtig.

The Blue Gym (or University Gym) is home to the Columbia Lion fencing team, located within the Dodge Physical Fitness Center on campus.

History

The team was founded in 1898, and has had some noteworthy successes. It has captured the NCAA national title 16 times,[ citation needed] most recently in 2019. It also won Intercollegiate Fencing Association national championships in 1898, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1919, and 1934. The team has also won 52 Ivy League Championships, capturing both the Men's and Women's titles outright in 2019.

Fencing for the team, Norman C. Armitage won the Intercollegiate Fencing Association saber championship in 1928, Emily Jacobson won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2005, and Daria Schneider won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2007. [3]

The team has produced a number of Olympians, including five in 2012. [4] Columbia grad Alen Hadzic was named as an alternate to the 2021 Olympic team, but was suspended by the United States Center for SafeSport (SafeSport) due to findings of an investigation following allegations of rape and other sexual misconduct; an arbitrator later reduced his sanction, allowing him to go to Tokyo, though he did not fence. [5] [6] [7] [8] Hadzic had previously been suspended by Columbia University for a year for sexual misconduct, while he was a member of the Columbia team, as a result of the findings of a Title IX investigation. [9] [5] In June 2023, Hadzic was banned from fencing in the US for life by SafeSport, due to his sexual misconduct. [10] [11]

Notable former fencers

Nicole Ross

Year-by-year results

Men's fencing

Year Wins Losses Pct. Ivy Tournament NCAA Tournament
2005–2006 12 5 .706 2nd 5th
2006–2007 11 2 .846 1st (Tie) 3rd
2007–2008 12 3 .800 1st 3rd
2008–2009 8 8 .500 2nd 4th
2009–2010 3 15 .167 6th 7th
2010–2011 2 13 .133 6th 7th
2011–2012 8 10 .444 3rd (Tie) 8th
2012–2013 16 8 .667 2nd (Tie) 7th [12]
2013–2014 27 3 .900 1st (Tie) 7th
2014–2015 17 6 .739 1st (Tie) 1st
2015–2016 19 6 .684 1st (Tie) 1st
2016–2017 25 6 .760 1st (Tie) 3rd
2017–2018 20 7 .650 1st (Tie) 2nd
2018–2019 1st 1st

Women's fencing

Year Wins Losses Pct. Ivy Tournament NCAA Tournament
2005–2006 17 3 .850 2nd 5th
2006–2007 14 0 1.000 1st 3rd
2007–2008 13 1 .929 1st 3rd
2008–2009 14 3 .824 2nd 4th
2009–2010 14 5 .737 2nd 7th
2010–2011 10 5 .667 2nd 7th
2011–2012 13 6 .684 2nd 8th
2012–2013 22 4 .846 2nd 7th [13]
2013–2014 .846 3rd 7th
2014–2015 25 1 .961 1st 1st
2015–2016 25 2 .920 1st (Tie) 1st
2016–2017 31 2 .935 2nd 3rd
2017–2018 26 3 .885 1st 2nd
2018–2019 1st 1st

References

  1. ^ All-Time Coaches, archived from the original on December 21, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
  2. ^ All-Time All-Americans, archived from the original on December 21, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
  3. ^ Ralph Hickok (April 1, 2010). "NCAA Fencing Champions". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  4. ^ Sherif Farrag '09 to Join Columbia Fencing Contingent in London, June 26, 2012, retrieved October 27, 2012
  5. ^ a b Brianna Sacks and Melissa Segura (July 23, 2021). "A Fencer Made It To The Olympics In Spite Of Multiple Accusations Of Sexual Assault. His Teammates Say The System Is Broken". BuzzFeed News.
  6. ^ Wiener, Talia (June 9, 2021). "MHS grad on Olympic fencing team suspended for alleged misconduct". Montclair Local News.
  7. ^ Longman, Jeré (July 22, 2021). "U.S. Olympic Fencer, Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Kept Apart From Team; Alen Hadzic of New Jersey is an alternate on the U.S. fencing team but has not been allowed to stay in the Olympic Village". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Josh Peter and Christine Brennan (July 22, 2021). "US fencer accused of sexual misconduct unhappy with treatment at Tokyo Olympics". USA Today.
  9. ^ Dan Murphy (October 31, 2020). "Law gives Congress more oversight of USOPC". ESPN.
  10. ^ Nancy Armour (June 20, 2023). "Fencer Alen Hadzic, who went to Olympics despite sexual misconduct claims, has been banned". USA TODAY.
  11. ^ "Alen Hadzic; Centralized Disciplinary Database". U.S. Center for SafeSport. June 20, 2023.
  12. ^ 2012-13 Men's Fencing Standings, archived from the original on September 7, 2015, retrieved July 19, 2013
  13. ^ 2012-13 Women's Fencing Standings, archived from the original on September 8, 2015, retrieved July 19, 2013

External links