WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University fencing teams have earned mid-season Division III national rankings from the United States Fencing Coaches Association. The men were ranked fifth among Division III squads, while the women were eighth. Both teams were also among those receiving votes among all divisions.
The Brandeis men are 13-15 in dual matches this season, with eight of their losses coming to teams ranked among the top 12 in the USFCA poll. The Judges are paced by first-year saber fencer Tony Escueta (Grand Prairie, Texas / Abeka Home School Academy), who has a 44-14 record this season, and a pair of epee fencers in junior Ben Rogak (East Setauket, N.Y. / Ward-Melville) and first-year Tal Kronrod (Concord, Mass. / Concord Carlisle), who each have a 31-19 record.
The Brandeis women are 8-23 this season, but have lost 10 of their losses have been to Top-15 opponents – the USFCA ranks 12 men's and 15 women's teams. The Judges have been short-handed without potential junior All-American saber fencer Jessica Morales (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington), who got injured representing Colombia in international competition. Classmate Maggie Shealy (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill), also an NCAA qualifier in 2019, has picked up the slack with a remarkable 71-15 record this season. Shealy is a five-time University Athletic Association women's fencer of the week this season.
"I am very proud of both these programs! These rankings are well earned," said head coach Jennie Salmon. "We've returned from a 2020-2021 season without competition hungry to tackle the most challenging schedule of any Division III school and show we can compete among the best. Defeating Division I programs such as NJIT, Boston College and Incarnate Word have been among the highlights so far. We are ready to cap off our regular season at Duke against D1's finest and then roll into our conference championships and regional NCAA qualifiers at our best."
The Judges wrap up the dual-meet season this Saturday and Sunday at the Duke Invitational, where they will meet nationally-ranked foes from Penn State, Duke, North Carolina and Temple.