NOVEMBER 21, 2004

HAVERFORD, PA. - The University of North Carolina men's fencing team opened its 2004-05 campaign with a quintet of impressive dual meet wins at Haverford, Pa. and in the process awarded Tar Heel head mentor Ron Miller with his 999 career victory.

After wins over Haverford, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Lafayette, Maryland and Hunter College, UNC's men are now 5-0 in 2004-05. That boosted Miller's career coaching mark with the Tar Heel men since 1967-68 to 532-213, a winning percentage of 73 percent. Miller also has a record of 467-205 while coaching the UNC women's fencing squad since 1971-72, a winning mark of 69 percent.

Overall, Miller is now 999-418, winning mark of 71 percent.

The Tar Heels racked up a 15-12 win over host Haverford in the closest of the duals. UNC beat NJIT 26-1, Lafayette 21-6, Maryland 23-4 and Hunter 20-7.

The sabre and epee teams were at their best in the meets as sabre won 39 of 45 bouts and epee 40 of 45. All-America Wes Newkirk went 13-1 in sabre while Joe Pipkin was 13-0 and Whitney Reeds 8-1.

The epee group was led by a sterling mark of 12-0 by Benton Heimsath. Alex Fener went 11-2 and Mike Buckhart 10-2. In foil, Steve Piantodosi was the top Tar Heel as he finished by winning 10 of 11 points while Fletch Tove was 8-3.

In the closest of the meets against host Haverford, UNC split 18 points in foil and sabre but pulled out the win with a 6-3 advantage in epee.

Carolina will return to action when the men's and women's team play host to Penn State, Princeton and Rutgers on Sunday, December 5 at Carmichael Auditorium on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. The meet should run from approximately 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.