INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (3/12/2019) -- University of Detroit Mercy men's fencing junior
Wiley Dressell (Royal Oak, Mich.) has earned a spot at the 2019 NCAA Fencing National Championship, it was announced on Tuesday with the NCAA men's and women's fencing committee officially announcing the field of 144 competitors.
The 2019 NCAA Men's & Women's Fencing National Championships are being held from March 21-24 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The men's fencing portion of the event is set for March 21-22. The national finals are being hosted by Cleveland State University and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
Dressell, the son of Titan head coach
Todd Dressell, was included as one of the five men's sabreurs from the Midwest region and one of the 24 fencers from across the country in the weapon overall. He will compete in 23 five-touch bouts against each of the other fencers in sabre at a chance for a national title. The top 12 fencers in each weapon will earn All-America status.
"It's a rare thing to get a kid into NCAAs,"
Todd Dressell said. "It's an even rarer thing for it to be your son. I'm thrilled and it's a great honor to be there. We're excited for the elite level of competition. It's something that we've been working towards and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to be there."
It's Dressell's first appearance at the national finals and the first for a Detroit Mercy fencer since foilist
Algird Szumlas represented the red, white and blue at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Dressell, who holds a season record of 56-17, is also the first Titan sabreur to reach the national championship since Jaroslaw Jelinek in 2007. Jelinek is also the last Titan to earn All-American status, placing 11th in 2005.
In his third season of collegiate fencing, Dressell finished eighth out of 11 fencers at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship. He went 3-7 at the regional finals, finishing with an indicator of -12 during the competition. He won all three of his bouts by 5-1 margins in placing in the top-10 at the regional championships for the third consecutive season. Dressell was sixth at the Midwest Fencing Conference championship individually in sabre for the Titans.
The Titans have a rich history in fencing with the 1972 men's fencing squad the only team in school history to
capture a national title. Under head coach
Todd Dressell, the Titans have reached the national finals in six seasons (2005-07, 2011, 2017, 2019).
Stay tuned to DetroitTitans.com for full coverage of Dressell at the 2019 NCAA Men's Fencing National Championship from March 21-22 from Cleveland, Ohio.
