Red Storm Great Isis Washington Wins Gold at October North American Cup

St. John's fencing opened the 2019-20 campaign sending 11 current and former fencers to the October North American Cup (NAC) in Kansas City, Mo., this past weekend. The Red Storm's performance was highlighted by former St. John's great and 2015 NCAA Champion Isis Washington who took the gold medal in Division I Women's Epee.
 
Washington, the lone female representing the Johnnies, won her first seven matches as the No. 12 seed to clinch a spot in the finals. The alum bested her performance as a semifinalist from a year ago by knocking off No. 22 Courtney Hurley, 15-13, to win the gold medal.
                                                                                    
As the two seed in the men's saber bracket, Homer went a perfect 7-for-7 to reach the men's saber championship bout. The former Johnnie, last year's gold medal winner in the saber competition, fell short in his title defense, losing to Ziad Elsissy, 15-11. Three current Red Storm fencers, Dalton Walker, Tariq Karam, and Sal Centanni also competed alongside Homer in the men's saber competition, finishing in 48th, 50th, and 67th place, respectively.
                                                                                      
Six of the 11 current and former Red Storm fencers competed in the Division I Men's Epee competition. Leading the pack was Class of 2007 fencer Benjamin Bratton, who finished third in the competition. Former St. John's fencers Curtis McDowald and Cooper Schumacher fenced well this past weekend, placing in 10th and 12th place, respectively.
 
St. John's alums Sean White and Adam Rodney finished in 45th and 60th place, while current Red Storm fencer Nathan Vaysberg placed in 69th.
 
Current and former fencers from Head Coach Yury Gelman's squad return to action from Nov. 8-11, to compete in the November North American Cup in Milwaukee, Wisc.