entries are being updated and expanded prior to 2013 NCAAs
• Women's Foil (includes 2013 NCAA qualifiers Alex Kiefer, Dayana Sarkisova and Madi Zeiss)
• Women's Epee
• Women's Sabre
• Men's Foil
• Men's Epee
• Men's Sabre
CLICK HERE for CF360 exclusive video interview with Northwestern All-America foilist Dayana Sarkisova
* Adding more for 2013, with photos
GRACE HARTMAN
NOTRE DAME ... Foil ... Jr. ... St. Paul, MN
... #8 seed entering 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 3rd)
... placed 9th at 2010 Midwest Regional
What would be the title of your autobiography?: Goodness Gracious!
Birthplace: St. Paul, MN
Is there anything notable or unusual about your hometown?: There is a lot of snow – but it is the most wonderful place in the world.
High Schools: St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul MN)
College Major: Industrial Design
Favorite College Class: 20th Century American Literature, because the professor connected so well with the students and she really impacted my life.
Why did you choose your college?: Bagpipes were playing Amazing Grace at the lakes the night I visited, it was a sign, I had to go.
What do you most like about being a student-athlete at your school? We are treated so well and really respected for all we do.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years? Traveling the world with my friends and family
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing?: "My two older brothers loved Peter Pan when they were younger, so my mom brought them to a local fencing club. As the younger sister, I was dragged along with, but I was too young (6) to hold the weapon. I started the next year and become the most serious about it.
brothers: Colin Hartman (foil fencer, captain at NYU) and Thomas Hartman (epee fencer and high school fencing team coach).Do you have current family members/ who have been fencers?:
Relatives who have competed in college or pro sports, other than fencing: Father Jay Hartman played rugby at the University of Minnesota ... grandpa Thomas Hartman played football at Cornell Univ. and Miami of Ohio ... cousin Peter Ridley played football for St. Thomas University.
Current coaches – Gia Kvaratskhelia (Notre Dame) and Ro Soblavarro (Twin Cities Fencing Club; 1997-current)
Who has been the key influences on your fencing career?: Gia has given me the confidence to believe in myself.
What are three words that best describe your college weapon coach?: Gia is kind, brave and smart
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – Listen to music, do the same warm-up, eat a bagel and cream cheese, and wear certain jewelry
Areas where you feel you have improved most this season – I have become more calm, being able to regain my composure
Key areas of improvement that remain for you – Building physical strength and taking more risks
How would you describe this college season?: Both my team and I have had some ups and downs, but I think that makes you stronger for the end of the season.
Who is your favorite international/national-team fencer?: My teammate Gerek Meinhardt is one of the smartest fencers I’ve seen, his concentration and physical ability is extremely impressive.
What do you like most about college fencing?: I love the team aspect of college fencing; you want it so much more if you're fighting for your team.
What would you change about college fencing?: The NCAA format seems a little strange since you have been competing as a 4 person squad the entire season.
If you were to play another sport on the collegiate level, what would it be?: Track and field, I would love to run the hurdles.
FAVORITES ...
What is your favorite college fencing roadtrip?: Although the bus ride to NYC is long and tedious, we bond so much on that bus ride and everyone is so excited because it is the first meet of the season.
Favorite cities where you have fenced at an event – The Las Vegas World Cup in the summer was always so fun to be right on the strip
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – Winning NCAA championships last year, all of the seniors deserved that ring so much.
Most embarrassing moment on the fencing strip – In an overtime bout I thought I had priority so I let the time run out without scoring a point and the other girl won
Strangest/rarest thing ever seen in a fencing match your college team was competing in: Last year all of our squads won the Midwest Conference Championships, resulting in a 6-0 win, something that hadn’t happened for 20-some years.
Favorite pro sports team – Minnesota Twins!
Favorite Food – Mac and cheese
Favorite TV Show and/or Movie; Actor and/or Actress – I’m a sucker for all reality TV shows. My favorite movie is The Goonies. I’ll see anything with Brad Pitt
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ALLISON HENVICK
OHIO STATE ... Foil ... Sr. ... Columbus, OH
... 3-time NCAA qualifier & 2-time All-American (10th at '10 NCAAs, 9th in '11)
... #13 seed entering 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 5th)
... 12th at 2009 Midwest Regional, 4th in '10 & 7th in '11
Birthplace – San Francisco (it's really beautiful and I love it there)
High School – Drew School (San Francisco)
College Majors – International Relations and Diplomacy, and French
Favorite College Class – I really enjoyed a class called Foreign Policy Decision Making because we got to represent different countries and have meetings, and create policies and treaties. I represented the Ukraine.
Why did you choose your college? – I wanted a big school in a city with a strong fencing program.
What do you most like about being a student-athlete at your school? – There are a lot of resources available for student athletes. Because athletics are important at Ohio State, teachers are very understanding and always willing to work with me and make accommodations when I travel for competitions.
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing? – Greg Massialas offered fencing classes after school at the French and Chinese American International schools in San Francisco. I was in his very first fencing class when I was in second grade at French American International School.
Current coaches (college and club)? – Yury Molchan (Ohio State) and Greg Massialas (Massialas Foundation).
Former coaches – When I am in San Francisco I train with the Massialas foundation where I am coached by Greg Massialas, Dean Hinton, and Cole Harkness. At Ohio State I have been coached by Gia and Vladimir and Yury Molchan.
Key influences on your fencing career – My parents, Donald Henvick and Margaret Ziman, are definitely my greatest supporters and I owe all of my successes to them. My coaches at both the Massialas Foundation and at Ohio Sate have taught me so much throughout my fencing career and have never given up on me. I am so fortunate to have had such amazing teammates. I have learned so much from my teammates over the years, both from their advice but also from watching them work hard and fence well no matter what. I am so happy to be representing Ohio State because I couldn’t ask for a more supportive and unified team and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Areas where you feel you have improved most this season – I don’t get nervous anymore.
How would you describe this college season (for you and your team)? – I am so proud of how well everyone on the team has been fencing this season. Everyone has been working so hard and it has really paid off because we have had great results so far. This is my last season, so I am glad it has been so successful and such a rewarding experience.
Present/former teammates (HS/club/national teams) who will be fencing in the 2012 NCAAs for other teams – I am really excited to see my teammates who have trained with the Massialas Foundation at NCAA Championships. ... I feel like I have fenced everyone from the Midwest region a million times. It can be repetitive to fence the same people, but it will be fun to see everyone at NCAA Championships.
Have you ever fenced other weapons on a competitive level: When I was younger I tried epee and sabre for fun. I was first in all three weapons at a 2004 RYC. I was 3rd in epee at a y12 national competition. It was fun to try sabre and epee but foil has always been my favorite.
What do you like most about college fencing? – I love that it is a team sport which makes the competitions a lot more fun.
What would you change about college fencing? – I don’t like that only the top 12 fencers from a team can compete at NCAA Championships. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to represent their team just like in the rest of the season.
FAVORITES ...
Favorite pro sports team – I like the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers because I was born and raised in San Francsico.
Favorite Food – I love and am excited to try almost any food.
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ALEX KIEFER
HARVARD ... Foil ... So. ... Lexington, KY
... 2011 NCAA champion
... #2 seed entering 2012 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 52nd)
... won 2011 NCAA Northeast Regional
Nicknames – I get Kiefer Sutherland or Kief every once in a while.
Birthplace – Cleveland, OH
High School – Math, Science and Technology Center at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, KY)
College major – Human Evolutionary Biology
Why did you choose your college? – The team is very tight-knit and the coaches are great.
What would be your dream job? – Doctor
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing? – My dad fenced at Duke and I remember watching him fence in a local tournament. My sister and I must have expressed some interest because we started taking lessons after that.
Family members who have been fencers – Steven Kiefer, father, foil team captain at Duke ... Lee Kiefer, younger sister, foil, 3rd place at Senior Worlds 2011 [Notre Dame signee; 2012 Olympic hopeful] ...Axel Kiefer, younger brother, foil, will be attending Cadet Worlds this year.
Current coaches (college and club) – Alex Ripa (foil coach at Harvard), Peter Brand (head coach at Harvard), Amgad Khazbak (head coach at Bluegrass Fencers Club, where I have been since 2004)
Former coaches – Les Stawicki, Louisville Fencing Center, 2000-2004
Key influences on your fencing career – My dad was the one who kept me going when I wasn't getting good results and I didn't feel like I was improving. He also gave us lessons and practiced with us in our empty dining room when we were just starting, and I attribute a lot of my skills today to him. My sister and brother are the reasons that I enjoy going to practice. The three of us have so much fun together. They also motivate me to get better so I can beat them every once in a while to deflate their egos (I'm mostly kidding). And my mom is always positive and happy and makes sure that I am happy too, even if I didn't get a great result.
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstition – I always sleep in the clothes that I'm fencing in the next day (spandex, long socks, and t-shirt).
Favorite international/national-team fencer – We named one of our cats Nam after Nam Hyun-Hee, the Korean foil fencer. She's small but so quick and controlled (the fencer, not the cat).
What do you like most about college fencing? – Having a team. We're all very close and we have a lot of fun. Being a part of this team is one of my favorite things about college in general.
If you were to play another sport on the collegiate level, what would it be? – Ice hockey! Or rugby. Or something rough where you get to beat up your opponents.
FAVORITES ...
Favorite pro sports team/athlete – Jeremy Lin! and the Knicks. Jeremy seems like a nice guy and a hard worker. I hope he continues to achieve success because he deserves it and so many people look up to him.
Favorite food – shish tawook
Favorite TV shows and movies – I currently watch Mad Men, Glee and Modern Family. My favorite movie is Remember the Titans.
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DEVYNN PATTERSON
NORTHWESTERN ... Foil ... Sr. ... Seattle, WA
... four-time NCAA qualifier (13th in '09, 21st in '10, 20th in '11)
... earned at-large berth in 2012 NCAAs
... #7 seed entering 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 12th)
... 2nd at 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional (9th in '09 & '11)
Nickname – Dpatt
Birthplace – Seattle ... High School – Roosevelt High School (Seattle)
College Major – Learning & Organizational Change
Favorite College Class – Principles of Entrepreneurship, it taught me the fundamentals of starting and running a business and the professor was really invested in his students’ learning.
Why did you choose your college? – Great academics and a wonderful opportunity to fence.
What do you most like about being a student-athlete at your school? – There is a great community and a strong academic support network.
What would be your dream job? – To run my own business
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing? – My dad got me into the sport when I was 12. He took it up a few years prior and had introduced my brother to it. My sister and I thought it was really weird but finally we tried it and loved it.
Family members who have been fencers – father Jan Patterson, foil (6-time Veteran World Team Member for USA) ,,, brother and sister also fenced.
Current coaches (college and club)? – Laurie Schiller and Ed Kaihatsu (Northwestern)
Former coaches – Charlie Sheffer & Leon Auriol (Salle Auriol Seattle, 2001-2008)
Key influences on your fencing career –My coaches from home, my dad, and my sister. These people helped me train, supported me when I was frustrated with the sport and are a huge reason why I love the sport.
What are three words that best describe your college head coach – Supportive, funny, knowledgeable
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – Just warming up the way I always do, with music that I like.
How would you describe this college season – One with some really amazing accomplishments
If you were to play another sport on the collegiate level, what would it be? – I would love to have played college basketball.
FAVORITES ...
Favorite cities where you have fenced at an event – Austin, NYC, Boston, San Diego, Portland, Busan (South Korea). All of these places are awesome cities that I may not have been to otherwise
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – Winning the 2012 Midwest Conference for women’s foil team. It had been a goal of our for all four years and to finally achieve it my senior year was really special.
Favorite food – Tacos
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DAYANA SARKISOVA
NORTHWESTERN ... Foil ... Jr. ... Grand Rapids, MI
... three-time NCAA qualifier (2010 NCAA semifinalist, 10th in '11; both All-America)
... #3 seed entering 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 8th)
... 5th at 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional (4th '11)
What would be the title of your autobiography? – "This isn't where I parked my car."
Birthplace – Obninsk, Russia
Anything notable or unusual about your hometown? – Grand Rapids was just named the #2 place to live in the US ... woop woop!
High School – Forest Hills Central (Grand Rapids)
College major – Political Science
Favorite college class – Principles of Entrepreneurship; it's great to take classes in which you can see how they'll directly influence your life.
Why did you choose your college? – Combination of excellent academics, location, and getting to pursue the sport I love.
What do you most like about being a student-athlete at your school? – All of the opportunities it provides.
What would be your dream job? – Marketing for ESPN.
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing? – Started being coached by my father at the age of six.
Family members who have been fencers – Dad and Uncle, both foil, USSR National team
Current coaches (college and club) – Ed Kaihatsu and Laurie Schiller (college); Mikhail and Arkadiy Sarkisov (club)
Words that best describe your college coach – passionate, focused, motivating
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – I try not to be too superstitious in sports, there's already enough to worry about.
How would you describe this college season – Fulfilling, the girls got really close and reached a lot of our team goals.
What do you like most about college fencing? – The format, and the new levels of competitiveness and teamwork it brings out in athletes.
If you were to play another sport on the collegiate level, what would it be? – Volleyball
FAVORITES ...
Favorite college fencing roadtrip – Garrett Open at Penn State... we all complain about the bus ride but it's usually a good time.
Favorite cities where you have fenced at an event – Anywhere in California because I like sunshine... and Busan, South Korea, because it was such a new experience.
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – Laurie's 1,000th win my freshmen year, at NYU duals
Most embarrassing moment on the fencing strip – Probably any time I scream.
Favorite pro sports teams/athletes – Most Chicago and Detroit sports teams
Favorite Food – tacos (whatup Dpatt?)
Favorite TV Show – MODERN FAMILY!
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MADISON ("Madi") ZEISS
NOTRE DAME ... Foil ... Fr. ... Los Angles, CA
... #1 seed entering 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 2nd)
What would be the title of your autobiography? – The Life of Madison (working title)
Birthplace – New York City
Is there anything notable or unusual about your hometown? – Los Angeles isn't known for fencing, so I was always given weird looks when I said I fenced. People would always try to make weird hand movements and immatate fencing since it wasn't well-known.
Other noteworthy places where your family has lived? – New York and Washington DC (where my brother was born)
High School – Pacific Hills School
College major – science pre professional (pre-med)
Favorite college class –organic chemistry (I am really good at science)
Why did you choose your college? – I really want to go to medical school and eventually be a surgeon.
What do you most like about being a student-athlete at your school? –I really love the lessons it teaches me, like responsibility. I have to manage getting my homework done, and still practice.
What would be your dream job? – Trauma surgeon
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How did you get started in fencing? – Watching the Parent Trap with Lindsey Lohan. I watched the fencing scene and knew I wanted to do it.
Family members who have been fencers – My father Gary Zeiss fenced foil and my brother Jacob Zeiss fences sabre
Current coaches (college and club) – Gia K and Misha Itkin (my home coach)
Former coach – Misha Itkin, LAIFC
Key influences on your fencing career – my family and my coach at home (Misha Itkin) have been the most influential. My family has always supported my career.
Three words that best describe your college coach – Father-figure, inspiring, loving
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – I always have to adjust my body cord between every touch. It helps me reset between touches.
Areas where you feel you have improved most this season – My mental ability to compete under pressure. NCAAs are a totally different game I was not used too.
Key areas of improvement that remain for you – I can always improve in every way, it will keep me working hard
How would you describe this college season – Up-and-coming and we are going to win!
Present/former teammates (HS/club/national teams) who will be fencing in the 2012 NCAAs – LAIFC fencing center, Eli Schenkel (St. John's)
Favorite international/national-team fencer – Lee Kiefer is one of my closest friends and I truly admire her talent. I can't wait for her to come to ND next year! [Kiefer's sister Alex won the 2011 NCAA title, as a freshman with Harvard]
What do you like most about college fencing? – The team aspect. I was not used to the feeling of being on a team at home.
If you were to play another sport on the collegiate level, what would it be? – Volleyball, I have always been good at volleyball.
How long would you like to continue fencing on a competitive level? – Hopefully as long as my body will let me. I love fencing and I want to keep it up.
FAVORITES ...
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – When I won my first NAC (a cadet one). It was a great feeling to know I could do it.
Favorite pro sports team – Los Angeles Kings because they are a hometown favorite!
Favorite food: – Mexican food of any sort
Favorite movie – The Parent Trap (it started my career)