Men's and Women's Fencing Places Fourth at 2021 NCAA Championships

The NJIT men's and women's fencing teams finished fourth at the 2021 NCAA Fencing Championships hosted by Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The fourth-place finish with 128 points marks the programs best finish.  In 2015-16, NJIT finished in 10th place.  

Between the two squads, the Highlanders racked up nine All-American accolades at the 2021 NCAA Championships. 

The five Highlander men were: Robert Hondor (T-3rd; Epee), Rourke Hillyer (8th; Epee), Cristian Candescu (9th; Foil), Thomas Manley (11th; Foil) and Justin Petway (12th; Sabre).

Junior Robert Hondor, who advanced to the final four in the men's epee competition, found himself down early against Penn State's Ryan Griffiths.  Hondor battled back late in the bout but Griffiths, the eventual 2021 NCAA Epee Champion, held on for the 15-12 victory. Hondor won 18 out of 23 bouts for a .783 winning percentage.

Rourke Hillyer, a junior from Scotch Plains, NJ, finished in eighth place, picking up 12 victories out of 23 bouts for a .522 winning percentage.

In the men's sabre competition, Justin Petway posted a 12th-place finish, registering 12 wins in 23 bouts for a .522 winning percentage.  Teammate Joey D'Orazio placed 21st.

Cristian Candescu led the way for NJIT in the men's foil competition, finishing in ninth place, recording 13 wins out of 22 bouts for a .591 winning percentage. 

Senior Thomas Manley placed 11th in the men's foil, posting 13 wins out of 22 bouts for a .591 winning percentage.

The four Highlander women were:  Dominika Pawlowska (7th; Epee), Marina Arrese (9th; Epee), Dorottya Berczy (9th, Saber) and Paloma Almodovar (12th; Foil).

Sophomore Pawlowska led the Highlanders on the final day in the women's epee competition, picking up a seventh place finish.  Pawlowska combined for 13 wins out of 21 bouts for a .619 winning percentage. 

Arrese, who was named 2021 Division I Men's and Women's Fencing Elite 90 Award winner on Friday afternoon, holding the top GPA among all competitors at the championships, finished in ninth place with 13 victories out of 21 bouts for a .619 winning percentage. 

In the women's saber, sophomore Dorottya Berczy placed ninth, combining for 11 victories in 21 bouts for a .571 winning percentage.  Classmate Cassandra Sehic finished 15th, recording eight victories on the epee strip.

Junior Paloma Almodovar recorded a 12th place finish, notching 10 wins out of 20 bouts for a .500 winning percentage.

Stay up to date during the 2021 NJIT men's and women's fencing season by following @NJITFencing on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Fencing Team page on Facebook