STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The LIU fencing team made history Sunday at the NCAA National Championships three times: freshmen
Anna Szántay and
Chejsa-Kaili Seck became the Sharks' first two fencing All-Americans in program history, and their classmate
Laura Fekete became the first Shark ever to win a National Championship. Fekete won the NCAA championship title in epeé, earning first team All-America honors in the process, while Szántay and Seck finished in the top 12 in their respective weapons to earn third team All-America honors.
"This is not just a win for Laura," head fencing coach
Ivan Lee said. "It's a win for LIU fencing, LIU athletics, and all of Shark Nation! Laura, Anna, Chejsa and the rest of the team worked tirelessly from September on, both in the classroom and at practice. We battled COVID, a shortened schedule and a few injuries, but in the end, we had our best record, three All-Americans, and a National Champion. What a great day to be a Shark!"
Seck finished the weekend with an 11-10 record, good for 12th overall in the field of 22. She earns third team All-America honors for her efforts. And Szántay won 10 of her 20 bouts, finishing 11th in the standings, and also earning third team All-America honors.
But it was Fekete who had the most magical day. The Budapest native was in seventh place in the standings coming into Sunday's sessions. Fencing well in rounds four and five, and Fekete finished the sessions having won 15 of her 21 bouts, good to move up to third place in the standings.
Having advanced to the final four, she first took on Miriam Grady of Notre Dame in the semifinals. She beat Grady, 15-13 to advance to the national championship bout, taking place on ESPN3.
Fekete took on the No. 1 seed, Kaylin Hseih from Notre Dame in the national championship bout. The two were evenly matched, and the battle would stay close throughout. The two would be tied multiple times, and the official had to refer to instant replay more than once. But on the final touch, the judge confirmed with replay what Fekete already knew: she had won, 14-13, to become the Sharks' first ever national champion.
