Columbia Fencers Favored to Win Ivy Title

Columbia fencing head coach George Kolombatovich is more than confident about his team's chances of taking home the Ivy championship this weekend.

"There is a reason that we have more Ivy titles than the rest of the Ivy League combined," he said. "Everybody knows how hard we work year in and year out. Last year we finished second and it was a failure, but that is because we are expected to win."

Sunday's meet in Cambridge finishes out the two-part Ivy Championships that began two weekends ago in Philadelphia. Both the men's and the women's team come into the match as the only remaining undefeated Ancient Eight squads. After easily sweeping Brown, Yale, and Cornell this weekend, the Lions face a much more difficult lineup in Penn, Princeton, and defending Ivy champion Harvard.

Last season was the first time in six seasons that neither the Columbia men nor women held an Ivy title. On the women's side, the loss was a difficult one, as they fell 14-13 to the Crimson in the first weekend match that came down to the final touch.

Columbia must rely on its depth in both teams if the Light Blue is to return from Cambridge with the title.

"I have been telling the team that this isn't so much about winning an Ivy title, but more about fencing your best," Kolombatovich added. "All our fencers have a chance to win every bout they compete in and they know that. With the depth we have and the intensity of our competitors, we expect to win."

All three teams the Lions will be facing on Sunday have weaknesses in at least one weapon, and Columbia will look to exploit those flaws in order to ease the burden on the other disciplines.

Harvard, most likely the Lions' toughest opponent this weekend, displayed inconsistency in both the men's and women's epee. Although Columbia did face the lower-tier Ivy teams in Philadelphia, the men's epee team was undefeated, while the women's team posted a 15-11 record. If the Lions can capture at least six bouts in their strongest discipline, the sabre, only four more will be needed from the epee and foil teams, a task that the team believes is an attainable one, especially against the Crimson.

"There is some bitterness and there is a strong rivalry between Harvard and Columbia," sophomore epeeist Lorenzo Casertano said. "This is the strongest team we have had in a while and all our weak spots are filled. I'm really confident in this team."

During the two-week layoff, some of the Columbia fencers competed at the Junior Olympics, more commonly known as the Junior Nationals, in Denver. The meet, used to help select the junior world team, was a helpful tool to keep those Lions that traveled competing at a high level.

Heading into Harvard's backyard and taking down the defending national champion is a large task by any measure, but the Lions know they are the favorites to walk away with the rings.

"On paper do we expect to win? Yes, I think we do," Kolombatovich said. "We also know that we can lose as well, so everyone has a job to do. If they go out and do that job we will have a fun bus ride home from Harvard."