2011-12 Season Outlook
The Haverford College men's team is in the rare position of having the potential to defend its conference title and win the Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) for a third consecutive season. Having won for the last two years, and being quite decidedly in a "rebuilding year," nonetheless the Fords have set another championship as their goal.
Leading the way will be the epee squad, which returns two veterans of Haverford's champion MACFA squad, and National Weapon Squad Championship bronze medalists Andrew Bostick and James Nieuwland. Each have won the Temple Open, Bostick in 2010 and Nieuwland at the start of the 2011-12 season. Bostick was also the at-large bid to the NCAA nationals last year, having placed eighth at NCAA regionals. Both Bostick and Nieuwland are excellent candidates to qualify to nationals this year.
Strong contributions are expected as well from the foil squad, led by freshman phenom Max Findley, an A-rated fencer from Pittsburgh who recently made the USFA National Senior Points List with a top-32 finish at a North American Cup. Findley is joined by savvy veteran Sam Levinson, and journeyman Lawrence Wang.
Much will depend on the development of the young sabre squad, five of six of whom are underclassmen.
2010-11 Season Review
Signature Wins: The big win of Haverford’s season was its Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association title. The Fords edged out runner-up Stevens Institute of Technology by a single point. During the regular season, the Fords and Ducks split their two matches.
Season Notes: The Fords won a school-record 25 matches on their way to their second straight (MACFA). Led by individual champion James Nieuwland, the epee squad won the gold medal at the MACFA championship. The epeeists earned the bronze medal at the inaugural U.S. National Weapon Squad Championships. Epeeist Andrew Bostick took home a gold medal at the season-opening Temple Open. Head coach Chris Spencer was named the MACFA coach of the year.
Postseason Honors:
- MACFA Champions
- MACFA Individual Champion: James Nieuwland
- All-MACFA first team: James Nieuwland, Andrew Bostick, Remy Olson, Aaron Ruby
- All-MACFA second team: Oliver Elbert
- MACFA Coach of the Year: Chris Spencer
- Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team: Andrew Bostick
Looking Ahead: The Fords return numerous important pieces to their 2011-12 lineup. Nieuwland and Bostick return to lead the epee squad; Aaron Ruby, a two-time MACFA medalist, is the team's top return in sabre, while Ben Van Son, a participant at the 2010 NCAA National Championship, will lead the young foil squad.
