WALTHAM, Mass. - The Haverford College men's fencing team competed in the Carla-Mae Richards Invitational in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Sunday, going up against some of the nation's top teams and coming away with a key victory over MIT in round three, eking out a 14-13 win over the Engineers, as well as a 15-12 win over Lawrence in round five. In total, the Fords fenced seven bouts against Penn State, St. John's, MIT, Brandeis, Lawrence, and Boston College to complete the day in an early-season test in New England.
Round 1: Penn State 19, Haverford 8
Going up against Penn State to begin the day, the Fords secured three victories in foil and four victories in epee. The foil squad saw Dean Myers, Andrew Strayer, and Oliver Po each grab a win, while Eric Chen won twice to support wins from Jack Richards and Chen. Haverford's sabre win came from Stephen Yarosh.
Round 2: St. John's 18, Haverford 9
Taking on St. John's, the Fords earned three bout victories in each weapon squad: sabre (3-6), foil (3-6), and epee (3-6). Haverford's foil victories included two wins by Michael Pyo and one from Myers. The epee squad was paced by a win each from Chen, Alvarez, and Richards.
Round 3: Haverford 14, MIT 13
Haverford claimed the dual meet victory in a close match against MIT. The foil squad secured a 5-4 win for the Fords. The epee squad also won 5-4, while the sabre squad fell 4-5. In foil, Pyo and Po each won twice, while Conrad Seib-Levinson added a triumph. Chen added an epee win, while Kenji Gullo and Alvarez won twice. Sabre was paced by two wins from Osaretin Idahor and two from Stephen Yarosh.
Round 4: Brandeis 16, Haverford 11
Against host Brandeis, Haverford's epee squad clinched a narrow 5-4 victory. The sabre squad fell 2-6, and the foil squad fell 4-5. Gullo picked up a victory, while Chen and Richards earned two. Sabre received victories from Yarosh and Andy Loo, while foil was paced by a 3-0 mark from Po and a win from Pyo.
Round 5: Haverford 15, Lawrence 12
Haverford secured a commanding 9-0 victory in foil against Lawrence. The epee squad also won their match 5-4. Lawrence took the sabre bout, 8-1. The foil squad saw 3-0 marks from Myers, Po, and Seib-Levinson. Chen, Alvarez, Raphael Yamamoto, Richards, and Gullo were victorious for epee, while the sabre victory came from Idahor.
Round 6: Boston College 21, Haverford 6
Boston College defeated Haverford as the Fords went 0-9 in sabre and 1-8 in epee. Haverford's foil squad managed a 5-4 victory. The epee win came from Chen, while Myers (2-1), Po (2-1), and Pyo (1-2) supported the victorious foil effort against the Eagles.
Round 7: Brandeis 19, Haverford 8
In the final round against Brandeis, Haverford's epee squad claimed a 5-4 victory. The sabre squad fell 1-8, and the foil squad fell 2-7. The epee effort saw Richards go 3-0, while Gullo and Chen were also victors. Sabre's win came from Idahor, while Strayer and Myers won in the foil matchup.
The Fords will return to competition in 2026 after finals and the holiday break, taking on the field at the Dave Michanik Penn Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 17, with action beginning at 8 a.m. in University City.
