The young Brock Badgers women's fencing team are headed to the University of Toronto from Saturday Feb. 10 to Sunday Feb. 11 for the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women's Fencing Championship.
13 teams in total will be vying for the provincial title. The first day features individual competition, and the team relays take place on Sunday.
For head coach Tim Stang, this weekend marks the opportunity to see how far the team has come.
"I'm excited to see the outcome of the hard work we have done this season," said Stang. "It will be the culmination of the focus and effort of both our athletes and coaches."
To start out the season, the Badgers attended the Hugh Munby Queen's Fencing Tournament, where they were led in results by fourth-year Studio Art major Sara Fellman. The Brooklyn, NY product placed sixth in foil. Fellman is hunting for a third medal at the OUA Championship after previously winning bronze medals in 2020 and 2022 in the team relay for women's foil. Recently, she placed fifth at both the Western Open and Winterfest and is hoping that momentum will continue in Toronto.
The next tournament saw the women's épée team consisting of Akanksha Guleria, Danielle Martin, Tamara Tait and Sarah Wilson place ninth out of 23 teams at the RMC Invitational.
Guleria along with Kirsten O'Brien and Wylan Clitheroe are rookies that Stang will look to for big results in the years ahead.
A newcomer into fencing, Guleria is a strategic and deep thinker who has upset potential while O'Brien, who is also new to the sport, saw a strong ninth place finish at the Western Open. Clitheroe represents a ton of potential and placed 16th at the Newmarket Invitational in late November.
At the Brock Open hosted at home at Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium, Isamaris Escano shined. The Burlington product and master's student placed 10th out of 44 competitors in sabre at the Brock Open. Though she picked up the sport later in life, Escano is naturally gifted athlete, who brings a lot of sport experience.
With a group of young and excited fencers, the Badgers look to surprise and move up the standings in this year's competition.
Keep up with the weekend's results here.
