COMING OFF a third-place finish in last year’s festivities, the Ateneo Women’s Fencing team is aiming to continue the climb to the top in the 78th season of the UAAP.
Preparations for this season’s tournament started off not with a bang, but a whimper, wherein multiple key players were barred from training due to injury. However, the squad is back to full health and ready to represent the Blue and White.
Experience is an asset that the team has plenty of, with a third of the lady fencers being seniors. This is particularly evident in the all-senior sabre team composed of Joseph, Audrey Uyan, Eugenie Huibonhoa, and Acdea Lim. Season 78 will prove to be a memorable one for Huibonhoa and Lim especially, who are set to leave the collegiate ranks after this season.
Meanwhile, Mary Rose Hernandez has been training hard and improving over the offseason after missing out on the silverware in last year’s battle. She will be leading the épée team alongside rookie Patricia Sarmiento, who herself has been having a phenomenal year, grabbing medals left and right in the preseason tournaments.
Preparations for this season’s tournament started off not with a bang, but a whimper, wherein multiple key players were barred from training due to injury.
Another key player for the épée squad will be former medalist Andrea Ignacio, who is coming off a rash of leg injuries and whose performance will be an important part in the Ateneo’s overall team ranking.
With the team’s passion, spirit and thirst for success, expect an outstanding performance from this year’s crop of fencers, who are looking to take the overall crown they took home last Season 69.
