Despite the presence of All-America fencer Jim O'Neill, the Harvard men's fencing team stumbled to the Ivy cellar last season.

After finishing in a three-way second place tie during the 1985-'86 season, finishing 9-2 overall, the Crimson was winless in Ivy competition last season, and fell to 4-7 overall, 0-5 Ivy.

Men's Fencing

1986-'87 Overall: 4-7

1986-'87 League: 0-5 (sixth)

Captain: Jim O'Neill

And climbing up the Ivy walls won't be much easier this season either, as a young Crimson team will try to overcome the loss of several key players.

So far, the Crimson has gotten off to a good start, demolishing Trinity, 24-3, and edging Brown, 16-11, but it looks to be a tough road ahead unless if the Crimson matures quickly.

"We're a young team, and we will get better," O'Neill said. "We did have a couple of big losses though."

One of the biggest being Captain Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy, a second team All-Ivy pick, pushed. the sabre squad to its peak with his flamboyant style.

Without him, the sabre squad will be led by a core of inexperienced fencers, with the eldest swordsman being sophomore Paul Pottinger.

The most potent weapon in the Crimson arsenal will be the epee weapon. The epee weapon, which went 8-1 in each meet, is bolstered not only by the return of O'Neill, but also juniors Adam Weintraub and John Mayer.

"Epee is definitly the strongest weapon," O'Neill said. "We have a lot of depth and experience."