The following seeding data is based on any sanctioned team dual-meet results during the 2009-10 academic year. Note that these seedings are very important to qualification for the NCAA Championships (40% based on seeding; 60% based on Regional performance/finish). Each team can qualify a maximum of two fencers per weapon ... in 2009, Notre Dame had three of the top women's epeeists in the nation – but only two (Ewa Nelip and Courtney Hurley) advanced to the NCAAs, with 2009 NCAA champion Kelley Hurley drawing the short straw.
The Midwest Region currently is allocated five fencers per weapon into the NCAA Championship round-robin field (which is 24 fencers per weapon, filled out by entrants from the four regions). After all of the regional qualifiers are placed into the NCAA field, there also are two at-large spots in each weapon (again, each team still is limited to two entrants).
A couple other notes and clarifications: (1) any fencer winning an NCAA Regional weapon title automatically qualifiers for the NCAAs (regardless of seeding factor); (2) if a team has more than two fencers falling within the regional qualification standard (i.e. top-5 for the Midwest), the coach can select which fencers will comprise the two NCAA entrants.
Based on the seedings listed below, Notre Dame is in position to automatically qualify 12 fencers for the NCAAs (assuming all live up to their seeds). Ohio State is on track for 10 automatic qualifiers, needing foilist Allison Henvick and epeeist Mary Pozydaev to "fence above their seed" today (both are #7 seeds, each behind three from Northwestern, two ND and one OSU).
NCAA 2010 MIDWEST REGIONAL INITIAL SEEDINGS
(Saturday, March 13 ... at Northwestern)