Alexander Grigorenko Class: Sophomore Hometown: New York, NY High School: The Beacon School Height: 5-10 Event: Foil Birthdate: 06/06/1987 Club: New Amsterdam Fencing Academy (New York)

Second-year foilist whose strong work ethic and rapidly-improving technical ability could help him play key role with the Irish during his career ... a fighter on the strip who will be looking to gain valuable experience in 2006-07 ... began to show several high-class actions in his bouting during freshman season ... placed 15th in the d-3 level bouts at the USFA's 2005 Summer Nationals, followed by 11th-place finish in d-2 at 2006 Summer Nationals ... placed 24th at the 2005 Pomme de Terre ... current resident of New York City who began fencing as a fifth-grader while living in his native Russia ... compiled a 3.51 grade-point average during his freshman year.

AS A FRESHMAN: Posted 24-5 record in 2005-06 regular-season bouts ... his 3-2 record at the Northwestern Duals included a 5-3 win over NCAA qualifier Cameron Sprowles of UC San Diego ... added 6-1 record at the Notre Dame Duals, 11-0 at Ohio State Duals and 4-2 at the UCSD Duals, with another win over Sprowles (5-1) plus a 5-2 victory over Fullerton's Alex Decker (also a 2006 NCAA participant) ... finished 14th at the Midwest Fencing Conference meet, after a round-of-16 loss to NCAA champion Boaz Ellis of Ohio State (5-15).

PREP & PERSONAL: Trains at the New Amsterdam Fencing Academy in New York City, where he is coached by John Gonzalez ... earned three letters on the fencing team at The Beacon School, also lettering on the basketball team as a sophomore forward ... fencing team captain and MVP as a senior ... placed third at the 2004 New York City Public School Athletic League Championships ... son of Vladimir and Dina Sokolova ... born June 6, 1987, in Novosibirsk, Russia ... a mathematics major, enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters.

Grigorenko's Career Record