March 10, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina senior Bobby Ziechmann will cap his career with a fourth-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Fencing Championships, to be held March 19-22 in State College, Pa. Ziechmann, who is from Charlotte, N.C., will represent the Tar Heels in men's sabre, giving UNC a competitor at the NCAA Championships for the 42nd year in a row.

Ziechmann sealed his qualification with a seventh-place finish at the Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals last Saturday at Drew University in Madison, N.J. NCAA Championship berths are allocated based on a formula that takes into account performance both in the regional meet and during the regular season. "I expect Bobby to do well at NCAA's," UNC coach Ron Miller said. "His finish in regionals wasn't really indicative of how well he fenced there, and he's had a very strong season."

Kevin Ziechmann, a sophomore and Bobby's younger brother, is the region's top alternate in sabre and would compete in NCAA Championships if another fencer from the region withdraws from the sabre competition.

With several near misses, the Tar Heels are sending fewer fencers to nationals than in recent years. Five qualified last year and in 2005-06, while four went in 2006-07. "It's disappointing to only get one when as a team we're stronger than we have been in the last three or four years," Miller said. "Unfortunately, we can't show that at NCAA's. It's not a good indicator of what we've accomplished this year."

At regionals, senior Alex Grigorenko finished ninth, one spot from qualifying for NCAA Championships. Also competing in that weapon were freshman Kevin Nadeau (18th), junior David Skwerer (23rd) and senior Nate Seaman (30th).

In men's epee, senior Benjamin Gellis was 11th, sophomore Eric Hsieh was 13th, sophomore Jarrett Rodrigues was 16th and sophomore Joel Thompson was 25th.

After Bobby Ziechmann at seventh in men's sabre, Kevin Ziechmann was 13th and senior John Powell was 15th.

In women's epee, sophomore Melissa Litschi was 18th and senior Christina Abruzzini was 20th.

In women's sabre, junior Patti Sanders was 12th, junior Jennifer Sawicki was 19th, senior Monica Kim was 22nd, senior Mary Borgo was 23rd and senior Jennifer Clark was 27th.

In women's foil, sophomore Hannah Thurman tied for 16th and senior Jessica Wacker was 18th after an injury forced her to withdraw during the competition. Junior May-Lynne Chen-Contino and sophomore Kaitlin Williamson both qualified for regionals in women's foil but were unable to compete due to injury or illness.

Bobby Ziechmann earned second-team All-Region honors, while Kevin Ziechmann was honorable mention. Gellis and Grigorenko also earned All-Region honorable mention.

"Overall, we had a great season," Miller said. "The women's team had to overcome obstacles through out the year and still had a lot of success. The men had an outstanding year, winning the MACFA Championship. The weekend was disappointing and we'd like to have more people going to NCAA's, but we'll bounce back. The feeling on the bus on the way home from regionals was that it was just one of those days."