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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S FENCING TEAM
WHEREAS, with a third-place finish in the NCAA National Fencing Championship, the Wildcats made history for Northwestern University and its Fencing Team. In his five years as head coach at Northwestern, Zach Moss has propelled the Wildcats to national prominence; and
WHEREAS, the Wildcats have become a fixture in the NCAA Top 10. The Cats took a sixth-place national finish in the 2019 campaign. Their 2021 record of 17-9, 0-0 Big Ten, surpassed its ranking from two years ago, making history at the same time by achieving an all-time best third-place finish; and
WHEREAS, led by three All-Americans: freshman saber Sky Miller, senior foil Justine Banbury, and sophomore foil Anna Biasco, the team saw six fencers, the second time in program history, qualify for the NCAA championships, the maximum allowed to represent one school; and
WHEREAS, Biasco and Banbury finished seventh and eighth in foil, respectively. Miller finished second overall in saber, the best individual finish in program history. NU’s other three competitors all finished in the top 15 for their respective weapons. Sophomore Ilsa Hoffman finished 14th in saber, while junior épée Julia Falinska finished 13th and sophomore épée Blodwen Bindas finished 15th; and
WHEREAS, the Cats’ success on a national stage followed a tumultuous season. With much of the season canceled due to COVID-19, the team played less than half of a season’s usual matches. The Wildcats struggled early on, going 2-4 in the season’s first invitational. However, the team steadily improved, losing only one match to teams not named “Notre Dame”. NU played the last matches of the season in Columbus, facing off against Ohio State and Denison University in two matches apiece. “It was a late add to our schedule, so we weren’t really planning for it,” Moss said. “But it was a great opportunity to get some more experience and help us get primed for NCAA championships.” The Cats had their best weekend of the year at Ohio State, sweeping both Denison and the Buckeyes to clinch a share of the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference title, and that momentum carried the Cats into the NCAA championships; and
WHEREAS, Miller had a stellar season to start her college career, posting winning records nearly every weekend and turning out a dominant 3-0 performance in the Cats’ second meeting with Notre Dame. With three years left on the team, Moss said he thinks the freshman from Durham, N.C. has the potential to be the team’s first-ever individual champion; and
WHEREAS, Sky Miller, who is also the niece of Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, said she hopes to carry that momentum into next season as well. “This is our best performance and we were not working with our full capacity,” she said. “So, I see it going very far in the future;” and
WHEREAS, this Honorable Body wishes to congratulate Cook County’s own Northwestern University Women’s Fencing Team on their outstanding season and impressive finish at the NCAA 2021 National Fencing Championships;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, celebrates the accomplishments of the Northwestern University Women’s Fencing Team; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to Northwestern University, Northwestern Fencing Coach Zach Moss, and to the team members.
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