Lippman Wins Men's Epee Gold At ACC Championships

Saturday, February 26

Durham, N.C.

All Day

North Carolina

ACC Championships - Individual

Eli Lippman Men’s Individual Championships

February 26, 2022 | Fencing

Durham, N.C. The North Carolina fencing team competed in the ACC Individual Fencing Championships Saturday inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. The men's team competed in the morning, and the women in the afternoon, in a long day of fencing.

Each athlete competed in 15 five touch bouts in pool play. The athletes with the top four records in pool play moved on to the final four. The final four was decided via single elimination 15 touch bouts.

Carolina's day was highlighted by freshman Eli Lippman taking home the 2022 ACC Men's Epee Championship. Lippman's underdog run saw him finish pool play with a 12-3 record, entering the semifinals as the No. 2 seed. In the semifinals, Lippman defeated Daniel Gaidar of Boston College. The bout came down to the final touch with Lippman winning, 15-14. In the championship, Lippman defeated Hunter Candreva of Notre Dame, 15-10.

"It was a long day but I was ready for it, this is what we practice for. I stayed loose and stayed patient and came out on top in the end," said Lippman.

As a freshman, Lippman knows that he has a long career ahead of him. Just hours after standing on top of the podium with his gold medal, he was already thinking about the future.

"I gotta keep my head down and work hard in practice. This was one good tournament, but I can't stop and be satisfied with it," said Lippman.

Lippman's gold medal makes it two straight years that a freshman from Carolina has won the ACC men's epee title. Now sophomore Reza Merchant won men's epee gold in 2021, finishing eighth in this year's competition.

In sabre and foil, the Tar Heels barely missed out on the semifinals. James Mulligan was North Carolina's highest finisher in foil, coming in fifth place. Alec Mulvaney placed sixth in epee, the Tar Heels highest finisher in the weapon.

The women competed in the afternoon and had multiple athletes barely miss out on final four spots. Sophia Mandour finished sixth in foil. Mandour's eight wins were the most out of any North Carolina women's fencer. In epee, Ali Parker was the highest finisher for the Heels, coming in ninth. Abby Parker was the highest placing Tar Heel in sabre, coming in eighth.

The Tar Heels will be back in action tomorrow for the ACC Team Championships. Pool play will begin for the men at 9:30 a.m. The team competition will be broadcasted all day on ACC Network Extra.