The Brandeis University fencing squad returned from a weekend-long trip to the NCAA's at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. with one All-America honoree. Saber Tracy Marien '03, who was accompanied to the NCAA's by men's Foil James McBean '03, helped the Judges earn a respectable top-25 finish at the event.With powerhouse schools like overall champion (and Division I institution) Notre Dame University in attendance, Brandeis tied with Duke University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 21st in a loaded field. Marien, a fencing co-captain and Rhode Island native, grabbed her first All-America award by placing tenth in women's Saber.

Marien won an astounding 12 bouts to place tenth, finishing two victories behind Austin O'Neill of Penn State University. She squeezed by Temple University's Aziza Hassan. Rutgers University's Alexis Jemal finished atop the heap with 18 victories for the New Jersey school.

"Tracy Marien fenced well during both days of the tournament," said head coach Bill Shipman, "and was able to beat some of the top-ranked fencers in the country along the way. She showed great composure and determination even after some tough losses."

To hear Shipman tell it, Marien's success has been the product of a tireless work ethic rather than raw skill and ability. "Since starting fencing as a freshman," added Shipman, "Tracy has put in untold hours of summer fencing, fencing after practice and at local tournaments. All that effort paid off this weekend."

"She established herself as one of the best college women's Saber fencers in the United States," remarked Shipman.

McBean, Brandeis' lone male representative, fought hard and placed 21st overall in a Foil heap that Shipman labeled "the strongest of the NCAA's." He was sandwiched by two Ohio State University Buckeyes, with Matt Carbone and Nathan Weir finishing 22nd and 19th, respectively. While Penn State's Non Panchan and St. John's University's Nitai Kfir each recorded 19 victories, Panchan earned the overall title. Shipman has often discussed the influx of foreign talent as another reason Brandeis fencers face such an uphill battle at competitions of this sort.

"James fenced well overall," said Shipman, "but often made one key miss or was a bit off-target in a number of bouts where he couldn't afford mistakes at that level. But he was also facing some of the best fencers in the U.S., college or otherwise."

Not surpisingly, Shipman had high praise for McBean's final performance with the Judges. "James has had an excellent career," he said, "and is one of the best Foil fencers in the Eastern region. He has so much upside ahead of him in fencing if he's willing to work for it. We're so glad James came to Brandeis and we're really going to miss him."

Graduating with McBean and Marien are fellow fencers Steve Zuilkowski '03 (Foil) and Miriam Kingsberg '03 (Epee).

Season highlights for the women included winning five of six matches in mid-November at the Northeast League Meet at MIT and a hard-fought 17-10 loss to Yale University in New Haven.

The men's team advanced through the Northeast League Meet unscathed (4-0), lost a heart-stopping match to Yale (14-13), and placed second at the UAA championships at Gosman.