Fencing: Irish take top spot in polls
By: MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
The expected was finally made official Tuesday, as the Notre Dame men's fencing team earned a No. 1 ranking in the latest United States Fencing Coaches' Association poll.
The men assumed the top ranking after knocking off then-No. 1 St. John's on Jan. 27 by a 14-13 margin.
St. John's falls into the No. 2 spot, while Penn State remains No. 3. Notre Dame's chief Midwest competition made the biggest jump in the polls, as Ohio State moved up four spots in the poll into a tie with Columbia for No. 4.
Princeton remained No. 6 in the poll, and was followed by Pennsylvania, Stanford, Yale and NYU.
Stanford dropped the furthest in the poll. The Cardinal fell from No. 4 to No. 8.
The Irish women dropped a spot in the poll to No. 3, after losing to No. 1 St. John's and splitting two matches with No. 6 Northwestern.
Penn State overtook Notre Dame for the second spot. The Ohio State women followed Notre Dame with their No. 4 ranking, and were followed by Princeton, Northwestern, Yale, Temple, Columbia-Barnard and Pennsylvania.
Although the coaches vote separately for men's and women's squads in the polls, the national championship is awarded to a men's and women's combined squad. The national championship will be held March 21-24.
The Irish return to action Saturday at the Wayne State Duals against Detroit-Mercy, Lawrence, Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, February 21, 2002
