With her first-place title in individual competition at the New England Championships on Feb. 24, senior sabre captain Louisa May Zouein carried on a family tradition for a last time. This year marks the end of a five-year run that has seen two of the most elite fencers in Tufts' history - Louisa May Zouein and her older sister Katherine Zouein (LA '06) - capture the top spot at the meet.
After winning in 2003 and 2004, Katherine took second to Louisa in 2005, who lost only one bout the entire day by a slim 5-4 margin. Katherine reclaimed the title again in 2006, beating Louisa by one point in a fence-off to break a three-way tie.
"It was really an honor to have that sort of legacy with me and my sister always getting first and second," Louisa said. "It was always really great to know that we both had performed well and were so consistent, and it was always great to be second to Katherine - if I had to be second to someone."
After Louisa solidified her win on Saturday, the sisters were notified of plans to create a trophy in their name to recognize their dominance of the sabre field. While the specific details have not yet been fully ironed out, the Zouein sisters will annually award the trophy to a recipient of their own choosing.
"We need to decide within the next couple of weeks," Louisa said. "We're thinking about doing the best technical fencer in the top six or a fencer who demonstrates gutsy or innovative fencing. I imagine it's going to be a sabreist."
Louisa turned in another stellar performance on Saturday, refusing to let up as she again took first place in individual competition, this time at the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association Championships. Zouein could hardly have asked for a better ending to her senior season, finishing atop the sabre field in the last two team meets of the year.
"It was just really a perfect day for me," Zouein said. "I loved it, and I guess this is really the best way to end my career here at Tufts. I'm really, really happy about it."
- by Carly Helfand
