Feb. 19, 2007

DENVER, Colo. - Northwestern's women's fencing team competed at the Junior Olympics this weekend in Denver, Colo. Kayley and Christa French placed second and third in epée while Sam Nemecek (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia) earned a spot on the 2007 US Junior National Team.

The Wildcats' top finishers were the French twins. Kayley French (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) edged her sister in epée with a second-place finish. Christa French (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) tied for third. Freshmen Sarah Henning (New Berlin, Wis./Catholic Memorial) finished 64th and Joanna Niklinska (Granger, Ind./Penn) finished 70th.

In women's sabre, Adrienne Shon (San Diego, Calif./The Bishop's School) placed 42nd out of 120 entries. Freshmen Whitney White (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) finished in 78th and Alice Weinert (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood) placed 98th.

In women's foil, Nemecek placed ninth out of 161 entries. With her finish she earned a spot on 2007 US Junior National Championship team that will travel to Turkey in April. Freshman Meredith Baskies (Lynnfield, Mass./Boston University Academy) placed 41st, while classmate Ameesha Sampat (Morristown, N.J./The Pingry School) finished 138th.