The Columbia fencing team did all it was asked to do and more on Sunday at the NCAA Northeast Regionals. The Lions put on another impressive performance against the best the Northeast could offer, qualifying the maximum possible number of 12 fencers for the NCAA Championships, with four more members of the Light Blue making institutional alternate status.

“This team is a very special one,” head coach George Kolombatovich said. “We got a little bit unlucky at times and a little bit lucky at times, as well. I was proud of every single person that fenced today.”

By NCAA rules, a team can have a maximum of two fencers qualify in each of the six disciplines, so should all three fencers in a specific discipline tally enough points to qualify for nationals, only the top two get to compete. Because they have 12 fencers making the trip to Columbus, Ohio in two weeks, the Lions have given themselves a shot at a national championship.

“If you don’t have the qualifiers, your result just won’t be good, period,” Kolombatovich added. “It really is impossible without 10, so with 12, we have the opportunity, and that’s all we could have asked for.”

While the outcome of the NCAA Championship is up for grabs, one thing is guaranteed—the Light Blue will be bringing the youngest team to Ohio State. Three of Columbia’s four women freshmen qualified for nationals, with the fourth freshman, Martyna Urbanowicz, placed on the institutional alternate list behind Tess Finkel and Oriana Isaacson. In total, seven of the 12 Lions who will be traveling are freshmen or sophomores.

In a strange twist of fate, senior Dani Gordet qualified for her fourth NCAA Championships, but will miss out on competing at the event for the fourth time. While earning enough points every year to qualify, the Lions had two other fencers ahead of her in the standings, forcing Gordet to be a spectator.

“Dani has been such a huge part of our team, and I appreciate all of what she has done in her four years here,” Kolombatovich said. “We know that while she would have been competing at the NCAAs at any other school, we were extremely happy to have a person of her character on our squad.”

As for individual honors, six Lions earned medals at the NCAA Regionals, including three golds. For the men, sophomore Kurt Getz won the foil discipline with junior Sherif Farrag coming in third, while sophomore Jeff Spear took silver in sabre. Freshman Nicole Ross took gold in women’s foil, while the Jacobson sisters—Emily and Jackie—battled for top prize in sabre with Emily scoring the victory.

The Lions have also, barring any unforeseen circumstances, steered clear of any major injuries heading to Ohio. Emily Jacobson, Finkel, and Farrag have all been nursing minor problems recently but all are expected to be close to, if not at, 100 percent by the time of nationals.

“When healthy, the men and women have a great combination,” Kolombatovich said.

“A team with one or two superstars will win individual competitions, but never a team title. The strength of our team is not just our number-one starters, but in our number-two and number-three starters. This showed during our Ivy matches, and we know we have the opportunity for a very strong showing at the NCAA Championships.”