(Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 25) -- The McKendree University fencing team competed at the Midwest Fencing Championships over the weekend at the campus of The Ohio State University. Five Bearcats took part in three individual events over the course of the competition, as well as men's teams in the foil and epee disciplines. 

In the men's foil competition, Omar Abdelgawad won three straight bouts to advance to the quarterfinals, before falling 15-5 to Julien Baneux of Ohio State, and placing seventh overall. It is the highest finish for a McKendree fencer at the Midwest Fencing Championships, and he received an award for the highest non-NCAA finisher. Nicholas Boss also competed in the men's foil event, finishing in 51st place. 

Andrew Tolbert and Caleb Hamilton finished in the top 35 of the men's epee competition, with Tolbert advancing to the round of 32. Zahrah Dinkins took part in the women's epee, placing 31st after defeating Mina Peak from the University of Chicago in the first round. 

In the men's epee team event, McKendree defeated Purdue University in the first round, before falling to host Ohio State University in the quarterfinals. In the men's foil team event, the Bearcats took down Case Western Reserve University in the first round, but were defeated by the University of Chicago in the quarterfinal round. Both teams finished in eighth place out of 22 teams overall in their respective discipline.