From Brandeis University Athletics
The Brandeis University men's fencing team saw one first-year competitor place within the top seven in his respective weapon at today's NCAA Northeast Regional at Cornell University, the final meet for qualification for the NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships in Detroit March 19-22.
In the men's epee, 24th-seeded Ben Rogak (E. Setauket, N.Y./Ward-Melville) made it all the way to the final 12. Rogak went 4-2 in the opening round with a plus-nine indicator to make it to the semifinals in the seventh spot. In the semis, he went 4-2 again, posting wins over Harvard, NYU, Yale and Columbia with a plus-six indicator to claim the fifth seed in the finals. Like the women's sabre, the final round of 12 was extremely competitive, with all 12 fencers earning at least four wins in their 11 bouts, and none winning more than seven. Rogak was 5-6 with a minus-one indicator, earning wins against the eventual pool champion from Harvard and the bronze medalist from Hunter, as well as two NYU opponents and one from St. Johns. Rogak finished in sixth place, but based on his low seed entering the meet, it remains to be seen if it will be enough for him to become Brandeis's first men's epee fencer to reach nationals since 2011, when Alex Powell '11 went.
In other weapons, Brandeis's top finishers were junior Jared Sugarman (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale), 26th place, men's foil, and sophomore Lucas Lin (Plano, Texas/Plano East), 29th, men's sabre