Boston College's 2021 fencing season was always going to look a little bit different. The fingerprints of the COVID-19 shortened the season considerably from a yearlong marathon to a short sprint to the finish, and the long meets filled with individual bouts for the team's fencers instead transitioned to dual competitions featuring head-to-head results.
The shift altered the landscape of a sport that looked considerably different from its more normal yesteryears. Several high profile programs opted out entirely, including the Ivy League teams normally ranked among the nation's elite, which created a vacuum. It was unfortunate, but it produced an opportunity for any team willing to step to the front of the line.