However, looking deeper into the results reveals a team that came within a few bouts of challenging Columbia, Penn, and Princeton at the top of the pack.

Losses to the Tigers, Lions, and Yale each came by 14-13 bout scores, with the Crimson’s saber and foil trios emerging with winning records all three times, despite the team losses. The epee group, however, struggled in the three nail-biter defeats, posting 2-7 records each time.

“Had we flipped those [three 14-13 defeats], we would have won a share of the Ivy League title,” junior co-captain Eric Zhao said. “We were right, right in the thick of things…. Beyond that, this was a great experience…. We’re a really young team, and this puts us in a really good position for next year.”

From the individual perspective, Harvard sophomore Eli Dershwitz and freshman George Haglund took the top spots in their respective saber and foil pools. Dershwitz posted a plus-44 touch indicator and a 14-1 record, while Haglund rode a plus-25 touch indicator to a 12-3 mark.

“I have faith that anyone on our team can perform on any given weekend, and this was the weekend for George,” Zhao said. “He showed a lot of maturity that some might not have expected but I certainly did…. He kept his nerve in really close situations and bouts to give him first in his weapon.”

—Caleb Y. Lee can be reached at caleb.lee@thecrimson.com.