Over the next several weeks, the University of Detroit Mercy Department of Athletics will be releasing its All-Decade Teams of the 2010s. For a full schedule of the teams set to be released, click here.
DETROIT (4/29/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy Department of Athletics is unveiling its All-Decade Teams of the 2010s, compiling the best student-athletes across the past 10 seasons (2010-19) into a First and Second Team in each intercollegiate sport. Next up is Detroit Mercy women's fencing.
The Titans honored four women's fencers across each of the three weapons in the sport -- epee, foil and sabre. Sisters Eva Berndt (sabre) and Kaylah Berndt (epee) both qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in at least three seasons each -- with Eva qualifying in all four seasons (2011-14) and Kaylah earning a spot in the championships in her final three seasons (2013-15). In sabre, Katie Lang also qualified in four seasons (2012-15) for the regional championships.
In all, the Titan women's fencing program had 24 competitors qualify for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships during the decade (2010-19), including a decade-high six Titans in 2012. The Berndts were both Team MVP's during the decade for the program with Eva Berndt earning the honor twice (2010-11, 2012-13) and Kaylah Berndt receiving the honor during her senior season (2014-15). In sabre,
Erica Tessmer was a three-time MVP in sabre for the Titans from 2015-18.
In epee, Paige Zmudcyznski was a two-time Most Improved on the women's team early in her career before earning a Team MVP honor during her senior campaign in 2013-14. Current Titan sophomore
Manal Shaito had a decade-best 62 victories during her freshman season in 2018-19 and placed 22nd individually at her first conference championship.
The Titans consistently faired better at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships as a team during the decade, finishing higher than their initial seeds heading into the conference championships. Detroit Mercy three times finished inside the top-10 at the league meet during the decade, including ninth in both 2018 and 2019.
All-League honors, award winners, standout and record-breaking performances, academic achievements and accolades as well as submissions from fans were all considered for each of the Detroit Mercy All-Decade Teams of the 2010s.
Detroit Mercy Women's Fencing All-Decade Team of 2010s
First Team
Kaylah Berndt, Epee (2011-15)
Paige Zmudczynski, Epee (2010-14)
Manal Shaito, Foil (2018-Present)
Danielle Spencer, Foil (2016-20)
Eva Berndt, Sabre (2010-14)
Katie Lang, Sabre (2011-15)
Second Team
Roby Wong, Epee (2012-15)
Alex Zimmerman, Epee (2017-19)
Sarah Armitage, Foil (2010-12)
Shannon Canavan, Foil (2010-14)
Savannah Lee, Sabre (2016-20)
Erica Tessmer, Sabre (2015-20)
Take a full look at our other All-Decade Teams:
April 13 --
Women's Soccer
April 15 --
Men's Soccer
