Harvard Fencers Compete at Junior World Cup

Michael Woo won the bronze medal in a field of 90 athletes (Gil Talbot).

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Freshman Michael Woo of the Harvard men's fencing team took home the bronze medal in the foil at the Udine Junior World Cup Jan. 5.

Woo, a native of Wayne, N.J., was seeded seventh and won his opening bout, 15-10. In the round of 32, Wood advanced with a 15-13 victory and then reached the quarterfinals with a score of 15-13. 

In the quarterfinal round, Woo, who was the only American to reach that stage, earned a 15-11 win, before falling in the semifinal round, 15-10. 

Harvard teammate Brian Kaneshige, a sophomore foilist from Maple Wood, N.J., placed 12th, while freshman Jerry Chang, who hails from Mountain View, Calif., finished 18th.

In the women's epee, freshman Nina Van Loon, a product of Boulder, Colo., earned a ninth-place finish, and Aliya Itzkowitz, a freshman from London England, was 12th in the women's sabre.