Rookie Hopes to Lead Team to Title

It’s been three years since the Harvard fencing team won a national championship, and for it, that’s three years too long. But this year, there is one girl who is looking to propel the Crimson back to where it belongs. Freshman sabre fencer Caroline Vloka has proved herself to be key ingredient to the team’s success as Harvard enters the important stretch of its season.

“She’s been a great addition to the team,” co-captain Emily Cross said. “She’s really been working hard. It’s definitely difficult to come to school and be at Harvard when you are used to being at home and training. She’s really transitioned very well.”

With only three sabre fencers for the women’s team this year, Vloka has been tested in every meet this season and has passed with flying colors.

“She is our best sabre fencer and by far ahead of everyone else in the nation,” Crimson coach Peter Brand said. “[The championship] will be very competitive.”

Vloka has filled the void in the sabre in a big way. This season she has gone undefeated at some of the biggest and most important matches, including a 9-0 record at the Beanpot and going 3-0 against Sacred Heart.

Perhaps her most exciting outing of the year came against Ohio State and St. John’s. In Queens, N.Y., Vloka defeated US Olympian and Red Storm fencer Dagmara Wozniak as she went undefeated on the day. The victories helped her team to a solid win over the Buckeyes, the defending national champions.

“Our sabre team has been up and down in terms of recruits,” Cross said. “It’s difficult as a freshman to be the leader of the team. She’s done a great job. She commits completely. She leads that team very well.”

While less difficult for fencers, the transition from high school to college can still be a tough one, as they are forced to leave their homes, where they are able to train for many hours a day in a competitive training facility. In college, there is less time available to practice, and so many rookie fencers struggle throughout their first year.

But Vloka has yet to show signs for concern, offering a valiant effort against the top fencers in the country this year. With close losses to some of the nation’s best, including a controversial 5-4 loss to Duke’s Rebecca Ward—a bronze medalist for the US in Beijing—on Sunday, her success comes as no surprise to Brand.

“Caroline can make the Olympic team in 2012,” Brand said. “That is contingent on her hard work. If she continues to do the same thing as she is doing now, she’s going to the Olympic games.”

Vloka recently traveled to compete in a Junior National tournament—a step toward becoming a member of the Junior National Team. The tournament occurred on one of the only weekends the Harvard fencing team had off, further demonstrating the dedication and passion Vloka has for the sport.

“She has four years to train and get better,” Brand said. “The only thing that can stand in her way is school. It can be difficult.”

Vloka will need to find a balance over the next four years of school, training, and traveling to national tournaments. But if she continues to work hard and be successful, she just might follow in Cross’ footsteps and represent the US in the Olympics.

The parallels between Vloka and Cross are already apparent in Brand’s eyes. He can’t deny the resemblance between his star freshman and veteran captain.

“The similarities are the drive and the love of fencing,” Brand said. “You can see in their eyes the way they practice, their tenacity, and resiliency. They have tremendous focus and a goal.”

Vloka will look to lead her team to yet another national championship. The Crimson travels to New York City to face Columbia, Yale, and Cornell this weekend in its pursuit of an Ivy title.

—Staff writer Melissa Schellberg can be reached at mlschell@fas.harvard.edu.