Merchant's Gold Highlights Day 1 Of ACC Fencing

Saturday, February 27

9:00 AM

North Carolina

ACC Fencing Championship (Indiviual Competition)

ACC medalists Beni Rabinowitz, Reza Merchant, Connor Head and Alec Mulvaney

February 27, 2021 | Fencing

Individual Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Freshman Reza Merchant won the Atlantic Coast Conference men's epee championship Saturday, providing the home team's highlight at Day 1 of the conference tournament.

Action continues at Carmichael Arena on Sunday with the team championship, with fencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Watch live on ACC Network Extra here or follow live results here.

Merchant was one of four Tar Heel men to make the podium on Saturday. In sabre, junior Beni Rabinowitz took silver and freshman Alec Mulvaney bronze. In foil, Connor Head was the runner-up, earning silver.

Merchant is the first member of the UNC men's progrm to win ACC gold since the championship was reinstated in 2015, when Notre Dame joined the league, providing a fourth fencing program. The Fighting Irish, which have dominated the ACC since joining, are not competing this weekend due to Covid protocols within the program.

The Tar Heel men won numerous individual ACC titles before the tournament was halted in 1980. The last fencer from UNC to win the men's epee title was Alan Knight in 1976. The last in any weapon was A.J. Keane in sabre in 1977.

On the women's side on Saturday morning, there were no medals but there was reason for excitement as two Tar Heel first years made the final four.

In epee, all four Carolina fencers were in the top eight with freshman Erica Oake fourth, Claire Harmon and sophomore Darby Haskel tied for sixth, and freshman Allegra Parker eighth.

In foil, Tarleton Hunt finished fourth, Aubrey Molloy placed seventh, Sarah Followill 11^th and Sylvia Zhu 12^th.

In sabre, Abigale Parker was UNC's top finisher in sixth and Julia Parzecki placed seventh. Senior Clara Somfelean was 11^th and freshman Judy Zhang 12^th.

In the men's, freshman Henry Shugart joined Merchant in the epee final four, placing fourth. Charles Roth was eighth and Jack Kambeseles was ninth.

In sabre, Noah Shepanek was sixth and Bernard Witek was eighth.

In foil, Jake McGillion-Moore placed sixth, Lucas Fernandez eighth and Will Palazzolo ninth.

2021 ACC Fencing Championships Results
Individual Finals
Women's Epee
Gold - Huda Aldadah, Duke (All-ACC)
Silver - Maria Papadopoulos, Duke (All-ACC)
Bronze - Chloe Beittel, Duke

Women's Foil
Gold - Zoe Superville, Duke (All-ACC)
Silver - Julia Gianneshi, Duke (All-ACC)
Bronze - Louise Tang, Duke

Women's Saber
Gold - Alex Gorman, Duke (All-ACC)
Silver - Rachel Liu, Boston College (All-ACC)
Bronze - Gillian Lawlor, Boston College

Men's Epee
Gold – Reza Merchant, North Carolina (All-ACC)
Silver – William Smith, Boston College (All-ACC)
Bronze – Danny Campbell, Duke

Men's Foil
Gold – Finn Hossfeld, Duke (All-ACC)
Silver – Connor Head, North Carolina (All-ACC)
Bronze – San Gruber, Duke

Men's Saber
Gold – Stephen Kim, Duke (All-ACC)
Silver – Beni Rabinowitz, North Carolina (All-ACC)
Bronze – Alec Mulvaney, North Carolina

ACC Fencing Championships Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 28 – Team Championships
9:30 a.m. - Round One of Women's Team Event (UNC vs BC)
10:30 a.m. - Round Two of Women's Team Event (Duke vs BC)
11:30 a.m. - Round Three of Women's Team Event (UNC vs Duke)
12:30 p.m. - Women's Championship Awards

1 p.m. - Round One of Men's Team Event (UNC vs BC)
2 p.m. - Round Two of Men's Team Event (Duke vs BC)
3 p.m. - Round Three of Men's Team Event (UNC vs Duke)
4 p.m. - Men's Championship Awards