Harvard's upstart varsity fencing team will face its stiffest challenge of the season Saturday when it takes on Columbia in the IAB at 2 p.m.

Led by an outstanding group of sophomores which includes sabreman Larry Cetrulo and foil Tom Keller, the fencing team has rolled up five straight victories this year, including a shocker over strong City College of New York 17-10 on December 14. Columbia, probably the strongest team in the Ivy League, defeated C.C.N.Y. by a 15-12 margin two weeks ago. Comparative scores are always tricky, especially in fencing, but they do indicate here that for the first time in years Harvard has a good shot at dethroning Columbia as the Ivy fencing champion.

Back-up Men

Behind Cetrulo and Keller, team captain Ron Winfield and sophomore epee Geza Tetrayllay have provided the depth which Harvard teams have lacked consistently in the past. The epee team, the weakest part of the squad in the first three meets, took on a new look against C.C.N.Y. John Reitz, fencing his first time in the number one spot, led the epee romp with three wins. But the most pleasant surprises came from Tetrayllay and sophomore Mickey Irvings who won five of their six bouts.

Columbia has lost several of its stars of last year's team which crushed Harvard 21-6. But the New Yorkers always manage to come up with replacements and are favored again this year to repeat as Ivy champions.

The freshman fencing team also takes on Columbia at 2 p.m. in the IAB. For the varsity the next meet is a return match with M.I.T. on February 5, before another tough meet with N.Y.U. on February 8.