Columbia Lions fencing

The Columbia Lions fencing team is the intercollegiate fencing team for Columbia University located in Manhattan, New York City. The team competes in the Ivy League within Division I of the NCAA. The university first fielded a team in 1898, under the leadership of coach James Murray. The team is currently coached by Michael Aufrichtig.

Columbia Lions fencing
First season1898; 126 years ago (1898)
Athletic directorM. Dianne Murphy
Head coachMichael Aufrichtig
2nd season, 21–16 (.568)
Home stadiumBlue Gym
LocationManhattan, NY
LeagueNCAA Division I
ConferenceIvy League
All-time record1068–503–9 (.679)
National Titles21 (End of season 2016)
Conference titles41[1]
RivalriesHarvard Crimson fencing
All-Americans213[2]
Fight songRoar, Lion, Roar
MascotRoar-ee the Lion
WebsiteGoColumbiaLions.com

The Blue Gym (or University Gym) is home to the Columbia Lion fencing team, located within the Dodge Physical Fitness Center on campus.

History

The team was founded in 1898, and has had some noteworthy successes. It has captured the NCAA national title 16 times,[citation needed] most recently in 2019. It also won Intercollegiate Fencing Association national championships in 1898, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1919, and 1934. The team has also won 52 Ivy League Championships, capturing both the Men's and Women's titles outright in 2019.

Fencing for the team, Norman C. Armitage won the Intercollegiate Fencing Association saber championship in 1928, Emily Jacobson won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2005, and Daria Schneider won the NCAA women's saber championship in 2007.[3]

The team has produced a number of Olympians, including five in 2012.[4] Columbia grad Alen Hadzic was named as an alternate to the 2021 Olympic team, but was suspended by the United States Center for SafeSport (SafeSport) due to findings of an investigation following allegations of rape and other sexual misconduct; an arbitrator later reduced his sanction, allowing him to go to Tokyo, though he did not fence.[5][6][7][8] Hadzic had previously been suspended by Columbia University for a year for sexual misconduct, while he was a member of the Columbia team, as a result of the findings of a Title IX investigation.[9][5] In June 2023, Hadzic was banned from fencing in the US for life by SafeSport, due to his sexual misconduct.[10][11]

Notable former fencers

Nicole Ross

Year-by-year results

Men's fencing

YearWinsLossesPct.Ivy TournamentNCAA Tournament
2005–2006125.7062nd5th
2006–2007112.8461st (Tie)3rd
2007–2008123.8001st3rd
2008–200988.5002nd4th
2009–2010315.1676th7th
2010–2011213.1336th7th
2011–2012810.4443rd (Tie)8th
2012–2013168.6672nd (Tie)7th[12]
2013–2014273.9001st (Tie)7th
2014–2015176.7391st (Tie)1st
2015–2016196.6841st (Tie)1st
2016–2017256.7601st (Tie)3rd
2017–2018207.6501st (Tie)2nd
2018–20191st1st

Women's fencing

YearWinsLossesPct.Ivy TournamentNCAA Tournament
2005–2006173.8502nd5th
2006–20071401.0001st3rd
2007–2008131.9291st3rd
2008–2009143.8242nd4th
2009–2010145.7372nd7th
2010–2011105.6672nd7th
2011–2012136.6842nd8th
2012–2013224.8462nd7th[13]
2013–2014.8463rd7th
2014–2015251.9611st1st
2015–2016252.9201st (Tie)1st
2016–2017312.9352nd3rd
2017–2018263.8851st2nd
2018–20191st1st

References

External links