University of North Carolina Athletics
De Grasse Extends Carolina's NCAA Streak With Bid
March 13, 2018 | Fencing
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For the 51st year in a row, UNC will have a competitor in the NCAA Fencing Championships. Tar Heel sophomore Justine de Grasse has been selected for field, which was announced on Tuesday.
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"It's always fun to be there," said UNC coach Ron Miller, who would know: he has been there in each of the past 50 years and will head for University Park, Pa., with de Grasse next week. The NCAA Championships are set for March 22-25 at Penn State's Multi-Sport Facility.
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De Grasse will be one of 24 competitors in women's epee. For the full list of qualifiers, click here.
A biomedical engineering major from Denver, Colo., de Grasse got the official word that she'd made the NCAA field via text from Miller while in Jacksonville, Fla., to celebrate her great aunt's 90th birthday. UNC is on Spring Break this week, but after learning that her season will continue, de Grasse is planning to cut the trip short to get back to training.
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"Moments like this are the reason I've stayed with fencing for 13 years," she said. "Being the one to fulfill the 51st year of qualification is amazing!"
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De Grasse won a bronze medal at last month's ACC Championships, hosted by the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena. She was UNC's highest finisher at NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals on Saturday, placing 11th. After that performance, her chances of getting into the field appeared very good, but she had to wait until Tuesday afternoon's announcement to know for sure.
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"As the season progressed she just got better and better," said Miller, now in his 51st season as UNC's men's and women's fencing coach. "She had a great day at the ACC Tournament, both for individual and team. And then she was just consistent, all the way through the day at Regionals – that was the main thing. I'm very pleased she's in the field."
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For the 51st year in a row, UNC will have a competitor in the NCAA Fencing Championships. Tar Heel sophomore Justine de Grasse has been selected for field, which was announced on Tuesday.
Â
"It's always fun to be there," said UNC coach Ron Miller, who would know: he has been there in each of the past 50 years and will head for University Park, Pa., with de Grasse next week. The NCAA Championships are set for March 22-25 at Penn State's Multi-Sport Facility.
Â
De Grasse will be one of 24 competitors in women's epee. For the full list of qualifiers, click here.
A biomedical engineering major from Denver, Colo., de Grasse got the official word that she'd made the NCAA field via text from Miller while in Jacksonville, Fla., to celebrate her great aunt's 90th birthday. UNC is on Spring Break this week, but after learning that her season will continue, de Grasse is planning to cut the trip short to get back to training.
Â
"Moments like this are the reason I've stayed with fencing for 13 years," she said. "Being the one to fulfill the 51st year of qualification is amazing!"
Â
De Grasse won a bronze medal at last month's ACC Championships, hosted by the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena. She was UNC's highest finisher at NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals on Saturday, placing 11th. After that performance, her chances of getting into the field appeared very good, but she had to wait until Tuesday afternoon's announcement to know for sure.
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"As the season progressed she just got better and better," said Miller, now in his 51st season as UNC's men's and women's fencing coach. "She had a great day at the ACC Tournament, both for individual and team. And then she was just consistent, all the way through the day at Regionals – that was the main thing. I'm very pleased she's in the field."
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Players Mentioned
Epee/Right Hand
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