Haverford College - Record Yearbook (Haverford, PA)

If enthusiasm and that intangible called " team spirit " can be any substitute for a winning record, the 63-64 fencing team was one of the best in recent years. The first hint of something new came when some fifty-five students turned up at the organizational meeting in October. Even after the us ual dropouts, the Fords were left with thirty- some members on the roster, though the majority were inexperienced freshmen. It was just this lack of experience that seemed to threaten the season to come ; there were only two seniors on the squad, and a freshman standout of the previous year, Bob Feinland, was lost through a knee injury. The traditional loss to powerful Princeton (this year 23-4) did not auger well: but when the fencers pulled out two league contests (both 14-13 squeakers over Lafayette and Muhlenberg), things were looking better. Sabreman returnee Bob Elmer was showing up strong, as was first year foilsman Dennis Carson. But those first two wins were the last in a season of " almosts " : 15-12 losses to Lehigh and Temple; 17-10 to Drew, Stevens, and Hopkins. Elmer was the most consistent winner as Carsin ' s pace slackened. Captain Bill Shafer and foilsman Bert TJmland had either feast or famine — some days winning three of three, other days losing all. There was still hope for a good showing in the Middle Atlantic Championships. Bob Elmer, with an 8-4 record for the day (good enough for fifth place in individual sabre competition), and Shafer at 7-5 in epee, were the only two Fords with win- ning records as Haverford finished seventh-and- last over-all. It was encouraging, however, to see a fencing team that enjoyed fencing as much as this one, a team that never gave up — even when the opposition had come up with that fourteenth point out of a possible twenty-seven that meant victory. There were even some interested spectators this year, and thanks to Freshman Weekend one of the meets was favored with a genuine CROWD. Bill Shafer