By Amanda Pirkowski
Medill Reports
The Northwestern women’s fencing team prepared with heightened aim for the newly named Schiller Duals, which took place on Feb. 1 and 2 at Ryan Fieldhouse, the team’s home turf.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Zach Moss, Northwestern women’s fencing coach: “This year, we are naming our annual home meet in February ‘the Schiller Duals.’ It is a meet that’s been in existence for a long, long time. And we are naming it in honor of Laurie Schiller, who is my predecessor. He was the head coach for 38 years. … He was the winningest coach in Northwestern history, of any sport, so it’s just great to immortalize him in this way.”
Rob Lichten, sports administrator for Northwestern fencing: “I think it’s a fantastic college fencing event. … For some of the dual meets, you know, they’re rivals. And so, you get Northwestern against Ohio State, Northwestern against Notre Dame.”
Moss: “At the DeCicco Duals this weekend, the team performed really well.”
Team chant: “N-U, Epee, N-U, Epee, Go Cats!”
Anna Damratoski, Northwestern fencer: “I went undefeated and specifically, against Notre Dame, which was great. … I am so excited to go into next weekend into Schiller Duals. … I’m glad that we have a lot of forward momentum – just me, myself and also as a team.”
Christina Liu, Northwestern fencer: “Every time I get on the strip, I just feel so much energy and like everyone cheering for me just makes me feel so like supported.”
Allison Wade, Northwestern fencing parent: “It’s incredibly nerve-wracking to watch. I get very, very nervous. My hand moves as if I’m actually fencing.”
Moss: “When someone’s trying to hit you with a sword and all of your biological instinct is ‘run away, run away.’ And so, it’s just a really cool sport that kind of balances all of those components in a really intense and fun way.”
Wade: “And when she gets a touch, it’s incredibly invigorating and exciting and to hear her team cheering with her.”
Kaylin Nguyen, Northwestern fencer: “Last weekend at DeCicco’s, Ava (Wade-Currie) and I created a dance to get their energy up.”
Team cheer: “Get-ya, get-ya, get-ya, hey boy, I’m gonna get-ya.”
Nguyen: “And we’re going to do that this weekend at Schiller’s.”
Moss: “What’s really great about the two events we fenced last weekend and this weekend … DeCicco and Schiller duals is an opportunity to both evaluate our team, what we need to work on individually, prepare for specific opponents, but then collectively, how do we show up at conference at our sharpest, most supportive and bring home a championship?”
Amanda Pirkowski is a graduate student at Medill, specializing in sports media. She also fences on Northwestern University’s Division I team. You can follow her on Twitter/X at @amandapirkowski.
