Narvaez, Mattos earn UAA Fencer of the Week honors

Narvaez, Mattos earn UAA Fencer of the Week honors
Posted: Feb 23, 2016

WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University senior Caroline Mattos of Cumberland, R.I., and sophomore Guillermo Narvaez of Metepec, Mexico, have been named the University Athletic Association Fencers of the Week for Feb. 23.

Mattos earned silver-medal honors in foil at the 2016 New England Intercollegiate Fencing Championships. She went 10-1 in the opening round and 4-1 in the second round to earn the top seed in the elimination bracket. She cruised to the semifinals with a 15-4 win and won, 15-8, to reach the finals, where the final touch went to her opponent, Jessica Li of MIT in a 15-14 decision, giving Mattos the silver medal. This was her second-straight runner-up finish at the NEIFC championships, while the women's foil squad took third.  

Narvaez was a double-winner, helping the men's foil team to first place in the weapon standing, then winning gold in the individual tournament. Narvaez, classmate Elishua Litle  of Haifa, Israel and senior Toby Gray of Keene, N.H., each went 9-1 in initial pool play to help the Judges to victory. All three then qualified for the direct elimination draw as well, with Narvaez (4-1) claiming the second seed, Gray (3-2) the sixth and Litle (2-3) the seventh. Litle was unable to compete in the DE round, granting Narvaez a bye into the semifinals, while Gray suffered a 15-7 defeat in the quarters. Narvaez avenged his teammate in the semifinals with a 15-10 win over BU's Sidney Leung before going on to take gold with a 15-9 victory over Tom Racek of Vassar.

Overall as a team, Brandeis finished in third place in the men's and women's three-weapon standings and the six-weapon combined standings.

The Judges return to action next weekend at Princeton University for the U.S. Squad Championships. Brandeis will play host to the 2016 NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships on March 24-27. The top collegiate fencers, including potential Olympians from Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State will be at the Gosman Athletic Center, with the Judges hoping to send Mattos, Narvaez and teammates as well. For more information, visit www.brandeisjudges.com/NCAAFencing2016.

Mattos is a 2012 graduate of LaSalle Academy.

Narvaez is a 2014 graduate of Technologico de Monterrey.

 

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