As a handful of basketball teams across the nation anxiously and helplessly awaited news of their NCAA Tournament fates yesterday, several Harvard fencers took matters into their own hands.

The Harvard fencing team qualified three fencers for the NCAA Tournament this weekend at the regional qualifier at Boston College. Junior Emily Katz and freshman Liz Blase made the cut in the women's foil event, while co-captain Eugene Cha became the first Harvard man to qualify for Nationals in three years by securing a spot in the men's epee.

"I'm very excited," said Katz. "Especially for Eugene, that was huge."

In a tournament in which the top eight competitors in each weapon secure a berth, Katz finished fourth and Blase snuck in at the final slot. Blase's fate was briefly in doubt, as she actually finished ninth among the foilists.

But Blase finished behind three fencers from Ivy powerhouse Columbia. According to NCAA rules, each school can only send two competitors to nationals in a given event. As a result, Blase will cap off her first year by competing on the national stage.

"They have an awesome squad, and they proved it by getting two people in," Cha said of the foilists. "They have a bright future."

By finishing seventh in the men's epee event, Cha became the first male Crimson fencer to make it to Nationals since he was a freshman.

"This was definitely something I felt I could do," Cha said. "This is what we've worked toward all season, and it's great to see it come together."