Princeton University Athletics
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Holmes, Stone, Ford Enjoy Success at Pan American Championships in Chile
April 23, 2015 | Women's Fencing
Current and former Princeton fencers Katharine Holmes, Isabel Ford and Eliza Stone '13 enjoyed a successful trip to the Pan American Championships in Chile, which wrapped Thursday, April 23.
Stone helped the U.S. women's saber team to gold with the Americans sweeping through the bracket with wins by no fewer than 13 touches. The U.S. eased past Brazil 45-15 in the quarterfinal before Venezuela gave the U.S. its closest match, 45-32 in the semis. Three of the four spots in the semifinals went to North American teams, with the U.S. defeating Mexico 45-28 after Mexico had knocked off Canada in the semis.
Stone's saber teammates were Notre Dame alumna Mariel Zagunis, St. John's alumna Dagmara Wozniak, and Duke aluma Ibtihaj Muhammad.
The Americans took the top three spots and four of the first five in the individual saber competition, with Stone finishing third. Stone was a perfect 5 for 5 in pool bouts, winning her way to the semifinals before falling to eventual champ Zagunis 15-10.
Holmes and Ford were in the épée competition, helping Team USA to gold with no match closer than 17 touches. The Americans got past Colombia 45-21 in the quarters, Canada 45-28 in the semis and Venezuela 40-26 in the finals. Holmes and Ford teamed with Notre Dame alumnae sisters Courtney and Kelley Hurley.
Like her Tiger teammate Stone, Holmes came home with bronze in the individual competition, sweeping through pool play and won her way to the semifinals before coming up one touch short in the semifinals against Kelley Hurley, 13-12. Ford went 3-2 in pool bouts and fell to Cuba's Venzant Ceily Mendoza 6-2 in the Round of 64, finishing 35th.
The event is the first in a year-long process of individuals earning points toward representing Team USA in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Ford just finished her junior season and Holmes is taking time off from fencing for Princeton to train toward earning that Olympic bid. The team will be announced in April 2016.