Notre Dame has captured the Midwest Fencing Conference men's sabre title, with a final win over Ohio State that required only six bouts (5-1). The match included two wins by Barron Nydam (5-4 vs. Max Stearns, 5-3 vs. All-American Mike Momtselidze) and two more from fellow sophomore Avery Zuck (5-3 vs. John Friend, 5-4 vs. Stearns).
Momtselidze's 5-2 win over fellow senior Bill Thanhouser made the team score 3-1, but Thanhouser ended the match moments later with a spirited 5-4 win over Friend (who won the MFC men's sabre individual title on Saturday).
As anticipated, Notre Dame and Ohio State also will meet in the finals for the other two weapons. The ND men's epeeists (vs. Michigan) and OSU men's foilists (vs. Indiana) both advanced 5-0 from their semifinals, with the Irish men's foil team posted a 5-2 semifinal win over Detroit and the Buckeyes men's epeeists edged Wayne State (5-4; bout details to follow).
Case Western won the men's sabre third-place match, 5-2 over Northwestern (in a matchup of club teams).