Led by Vanessa Lacas-Warrick, the York University women's fencing club had an impressive weekend in finishing fourth place overall in the team standings at the 2016 OUA Fencing championships at the University of Western in London, Ont. (Feb 20-21).
 
Lacas-Warrick (Markham, Ont.) starred for the Lions as she picked up the gold medal in the individual women's epee event, defeating Cecily McDonnell of RMC by a score of 15-12 in the final. Lacas-Warrick cruised through the four round tournament bracket by defeating her opponents by scores of 15-8, 15-4, and 15-5 in the first three rounds en route to the final.
 
The Lions also picked up the gold medal in the women's team epee event, where Lacas-Warrick was joined by teammates Shadiya Aidid (Etobicoke, Ont.), Sinavy Jongepier (Newmarket, Ont.), and Vera Leung (Markham, Ont.) on the Lions squad. Seeded second in the event, the women defeated Western (45-37), Queen's (45-40), and top-seeded RMC (45-41) in finishing at the top of the podium.
 
Lacas-Warrick was named the Dr. Al English Trophy winner, which goes to the women's OUA Championship All-star in the epee event. York Lions Fencing club coach Jason Monroe was also awarded the Christian Vidosa Trophy as the OUA's Fencing Coach of the Year for 2015-16.
 
The Queen's Gaels won the overall gold medal, followed by the RMC Paladins with the silver, and the Western Mustangs with the bronze.
 
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