“She has a wonderful attitude,” Brand said. “She’s upbeat, positive all the time, and works without fail.”

Kiefer’s success has been clear all season long. In her first competition in a Harvard uniform—the Garret Open held at Penn State in November—Kiefer came home with gold. Certainly expectations were high, but the freshman found a way to not only maintain her success, but also improve over the course of the season.

By the end of the year, Kiefer posted an overall record of 62-7. In Brand’s eyes, Kiefer’s performance this season is a feat that rivals the rookie performance of former Harvard fencer Emily Cross ’08. Cross, who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, also claimed the 2005 NCAA women’s foil title as a freshman.

“[Alex] started off on a high note, obviously, at Penn State,” Brand said. “She sustained that and got even better and stronger over the year…and obviously was able to maintain that focus and maintain that consistency, which is very difficult to do.”

Having achieved one of the greatest personal goals for which a college fencer can aim, Kiefer may shift her priorities as she continues to fence for the Crimson. While the freshman looks for a repeat title next year, she seems to have placed a greater emphasis on helping the team succeed.

“I want to do better as a team,” Kiefer said. “I just want to make sure that I keep enjoying it, the sport, because it makes so much of a difference if you actually enjoy it.”

Kiefer’s teammates and coaches have more than just wins to look forward to in the next three years—they get to enjoy the company of Alexandra Kiefer.

“She’s one of those people that you just have to like,” Vloka said.