St. John's University Athletics
Wozniak Leads U.S. Women's Saber Team To Bronze At The Senior World Championships
7/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's alum Dagmara Wozniak led the U.S. Women's Saber team to a bronze medal Friday at the Senior World Championships in Moscow. Wozniak teamed up with Mariel Zagunis, Ibtihaj Muhammad, and Eliza Stone to finish on the podium for the fifth-consecutive year.
Wozniak helped the squad become one of the most dominant and decorated teams in USA Fencing history as they have now piled up four third-place finishes (2011-13, 2015) and one first-place finish (2014) in the past five years.
The Avenel, N.J., native and two-time Olympic Champion Zagunis got the event off to a fast start against China. Both fencers shut out their opponents, giving the U.S. a 10-0 lead after just two bouts. Muhammad would then come in for the third bout and Stone was subbed in during the third rotation as Team USA defeated China, 45-39.
In a rematch of the 2014 Senior World semifinal, Team USA took on Ukraine and won or tied four of the first eight bouts. Wozniak came in as anchor against Olga Kharlan - the 2013 and 2014 Senior World Champion.
Starting at a four-touch deficit, Wozniak scored four against Kharlan, but couldn't make up the touches and Ukraine took the bout, 45-39, before going on to win the silver medal with Russia taking home the gold.
In the bronze medal final, Team USA fenced Poland - a team that upset France, the 2014 Senior World silver medalists. Team USA won six of the first eight bouts against Poland to give Wozniak a 40-32 lead going into the anchor bout against 2007 Senior World individual bronze medalist Bogna Jozwiak. Wozniak gave up just one touch and Team USA concluded the Senior Worlds with a 45-33 win.
In the women's individual saber event, Wozniak, Zagunis and Muhammad all advanced to the table of 16. Zagunis finished in 10th place, while Wozniak and Muhammad placed 12th and 13th, respectively.
Wozniak came into the competition ranked No. 5 in the world and got off to a fast start in the opening period against Kazakhstan's Tamara Pochekutova. She outscored her opponent, 8-2 before Pochekutova made a comeback in the second period. However, Wozniak would hold on to get the victory, 15-13.
In the table of 32, Wozniak led from start to finish and went on to defeat Spain's Laia Vila, 15-12., to advance to the table of 16.
Wozniak would then face Vassiliki Vougiouka of Greece, who finished in the top eight at both the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 Senior Worlds. Wozniak won their last bout at the Athens World Cup earlier this season en route to winning bronze. She had a great start with an 8-4 first period, but Vougiouka came back in the second to take a 14-13 lead. Wozniak did not go quietly as she recorded a touch tie the bout, but Vouiouka picked up the last touch for a 15-14 win.
