The idea is simple: They're good, and they want to get better.
The women's fencing team — which last season had four fencers qualify for the NCAA Regional — is looking to build upon its recent successes.
Sophomores Kira Hoffman and Abby Hepworth, junior Sarah Danly and Amani Smathers (LA '10) were the four fencers who last season made NCAA Regionals. And while Smathers graduated and Danly is abroad for the remainder of the fall, most of last season's team remains intact, providing hope for an even more successful campaign this fall.
But not everything is the same as last year. The Jumbos have a new coach at the helm, Alina Klinkov, and a new crop of freshmen ready to help transform Tufts into a top team.
"We are a lot more serious this season," senior quad-captain Georgia Ranes said. "We are reformatting our team. We have a new coach and we are working out and working harder than we ever have, and we think this is going to be a great season for us. We have really strong leadership this year, and our team dynamics are very good."
In preparation for the coming season, the Jumbos entered "The Big One" preseason tournament at Smith. The meet involved 19 schools, including Brown, Brandeis, Vassar, Boston College and MIT. While it did not count toward the Jumbos' NCAA standing, the team used it as a tune-up for the upcoming season.
The meet was a great success for the Jumbos. Ranes and fellow senior quad-captain Coryn Wolk put in outstanding epee performances, finishing in fifth and 11th place, respectively. Junior Brianna Smith and sophomore Daphne Kolios put in strong performances as well, finishing 22nd and 23rd respectively in the sabre event.
The meet allowed the new freshmen to get their first taste of collegiate competition. Julia Hisey earned a team-best 11th place in the sabre, Isabella Connelly finished 39th in the foil, and Laurel Hutchison placed 38th in the epee. Sophomore Abby Hepworth also put in a good performance, finishing behind Hutchison in 41st place.
"It is always good to have new blood, and it brings a fresh dynamic to the team," Ranes said. "This year, we have three fencers for each weapon who are experienced, and then we have two to three new girls who are freshmen and have never fenced before, and we are starting them from scratch. The experienced girls are learning from the team dynamic and from the older girls who have been fencing longer."
The Jumbos have also focused on the development of more novice fencers, many of whom joined the team with little or no experience and are learning from the more experienced team members.
"We have a really close team, and we have all been really supportive of each other," Kolios, who is also an assistant news editor for the Daily, said. "The experienced fencers have helped the younger fencers, and they have really contributed to a great team dynamic regardless of their experience."
Tufts' season begins this weekend with a home meet against Stevens Tech and Yeshiva. Last year, the Jumbos posted one of their best outings against Yeshiva with a 16-11 win, and they are hoping that their strong outing at "The Big One" holds them in good stead.
"It was a good warm up, especially when the competition is so strong … with schools like Vassar, Brandeis and Brown," Ranes said. "Those schools are great, but we can hold our own against them. Half of fencing is just being calm under stress and not losing your temper and staying focused, and I think every one of our girls has the ability to do that."
