WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University freshman Julian Cardillo of Medford, Mass, and junior Alex Powell of Upper Montclair, N.J., have been selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships, which will be held at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, held March 24 through 27.
Cardillo, a foil fencer, has been one of the Judges' top performers all season. He went 45-17 overall during the regular season, including 24-1 in Northeast Fencing Conference bouts, to earn NFC Fencer of the Year honors. At this weekend's NCAA Northeast regional championships, Cardillo entered the tournament as the region's ninth seed, but improved two places to finish seventh overall. At the regionals, Cardillo went 4-2 in the first round of pool play and 5-1 in the second round to qualify for the finals in the second position. In the final round, he went 6-5, tied with two others for fifth overall and placing seventh based on touch differential. Among his victories in the final round were wins over opponents from Brown, Columbia, St. John's, Sacred Heart, NYU and Yale. Cardillo's finish among the top eight earned him an automatic bid to the championships.
Powell, a junior epee fencer, went 30-20 during the regular season. He was the 16th seed headed into the regional championships, where he ended up finishing 12th overall. Powell went 3-3 in each of his first two rounds, though all three of his defeats in the semifinals were by scores of 5-4, as were two of his three victories. Among Powell's wins was a one-touch triumph over fourth-place finisher James Hawrot of Harvard. Powell won just one bout in the final round, but his 12th-place finish was enough to grab one of two at-large berths into the field of 24.
Cardillo is the first rookie from Brandeis to qualify for the NCAA championships since four-time qualifier and All-American Will Friedman '09 qualified in 2006. Friedman was also the Judges' previous foil fencer at NCAAs. Powell marks Brandeis's second-straight epee fencer to make to the NCAA championships, joining Will Bedor '10. In 2010 at Harvard, Brandeis finished 25th at the NCAA championships, fourth among Division III programs.
Cardillo is a 2010 graduate of St. Johns Prep School. He is the son of Antonio and Lucia Cardillo, Medford, Mass.
Powell is a 2008 graduate of Montclair High School. He is the son of Matthew and Ronnie Powell, Upper Montclair, N.J.
For the complete list of qualifiers for the 2011 NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships, follow this link: http://www.ncaa.com/news/fencing/2011-03-15/fencing-championship-field-revealed
For more information on Brandeis men's fencing and field, visit us on-line at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/mfence. Head shots and action shots are available on request.