Women's Intercollegiate Championships
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Women's Intercollegiate Championships
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Date
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June 1939
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volume
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4
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4
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3
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3
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en
WOMEN'S INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
With eight teams entered, the largest in the history of the tournament, Hofstra College emerged the undefeated victor in the team championship, while its captain, Helena Mroczkowska, won the Individual Championship with only one defeat in 23 bouts. Beryl Petchesky of New York University took second place, being the only girl to defeat the new champion throughout the long day of competition. Elizabeth Bruskin of Brooklyn College took third place on a one-touch advantage over Maria Cerra of Hunter College, the defending champion. New York University, the defending Team Champion, took second, losing only to the Hofstra College team. Hunter College, the 1937 champion, took third, losing only to Hofstra and N.Y.U.
With every bout counting toward both the Individual and Team scores, it was necessary to complete all matches in the round robin. As a result, every girl had to fence 23 bouts, which made the fencing last from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M., with time out only for lunch and dinner.
Hofstra College and N.Y.U. had well-balanced teams. Hunter College did unusually well with only one veteran and three less-experienced fencers, but here again it showed that experience is a so important factor in fencing competition. Brooklyn College was definitely a one-girl team. The other colleges showed weakness through the lack of competitive experience and relative newness to the sport.
The last match of the evening between Hofstra College and Hunter College was packed with drama. After the lead had see-sawed back and forth, the score in bouts was 3-3 with Helena Mroczkowska of Hofstra to meet Maria Cerra of Hunter in the last bout for each. A win for Helena here would give her the individual title, while Maria, the defending champion, needed that bout to enter a three-way tie for first place. The Hofstra captain jumped into the lead and kept it throughout to win the bout 4-2. Dorothy Wahl of Hofstra then defeated her opponent 4-1 to clinch Hofstra's first Intercollegiate Team Championship.
COMMENTS: Brooklyn College deserves congratulations for the excellent arrangements for the fencing. The girls must also be congratulated for their fine spirit and camaraderie. Despite the long, hard fencing session, they were in jovial mood at dinner (each girl had fenced 20 bouts by that time). The various college groups were seated together at the long horseshoe table, each group singing its alma mater in turn. The Directors and Judges, not to be outdone, sang their theme song, "Three Blind Mice."
Summaries and Final Standing
Hofstra College defeated Jersey Teachers College 7-2, Cornell 6-4, Wagner 8-1, College of William & Mary 9-3, Brooklyn College 6-3, N.Y.U. 5-4, and Hunter 5-4.
N.Y.U. defeated Jersey City Teachers College 7-2, Brooklyn College 6-3, Hunter 5-4, College of William & Mary 8-1, Wagner College 7-2, and Cornell 6-3.
Hunter College defeated Cornell 5-4, Wagner College 6-3, Jersey City Teachers College 7-2, College of William & Mary 7-2, and Brooklyn College 6-3.
Brooklyn College defeated Wagner College 7-2, Jersey City Teachers College 6-3, and Cornell 5-4.
Cornell defeated College of William & Mary 6-3, Jersey City Teachers College 6-3, and Wagner College 6-3.
College of William & Mary defeated Brooklyn College 6-3 and Jersey City Teachers College 6-3.
Wagner College defeated College of William & Mary 6-3 and Jersey City Teachers College 6-3.
Individual Championship (First Ten):
Helena Mroczkowska (Hofstra College) — Won: 22, Lost: 1
Beryl Petchesky (N.Y.U.) — Won: 21, Lost: 2
Elizabeth Bruskin (Brooklyn College) — Won: 20, Lost: 3 (19 touches against)
Maria Cerra (Hunter College) — Won: 20, Lost: 3 (31 touches against)
Josephine Mancini (N.Y.U.) — Won: 15, Lost: 6
Dorothy Wahl (Hofstra College) — Won: 14, Lost: 9
Geraldine Mason (Cornell) — Won: 13, Lost: 10
Constance Eberhardt (Cornell) — Won: 13, Lost: 10
Elaine Klepfer (Brooklyn College) — Won: 12, Lost: 11
Doris Locke (William & Mary) — Won: 12, Lost: 11
