UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Notre Dame University made a triumphant return to the top of the collegiate fencing world, clinching its 14th NCAA fencing championship at Penn State University. The team, which saw its three-year winning streak halted by Harvard last season, reclaimed the championship by finishing with 183 points, eleven ahead of Columbia/Barnard, their nearest competitor. Meanwhile, Harvard and Princeton ended the competition tied for third place with 141 points each, and St. John’s secured fifth with 95 points.
In individual events, Eszter Muhari delivered a spectacular performance to successfully defend her title in the women’s épée. Muhari, facing an early deficit, staged a comeback to win 15-13 against Tierna Oxenreider of Columbia/Barnard. Her path to victory included a dominant 15-2 semifinal win over Princeton’s Leehi Machulsky. Muhari’s remarkable achievement solidifies her place in history as the sixth fencer from Notre Dame to secure multiple individual titles.
Another highlight came in the women’s sabre event. Magda Skarbonkiewicz emerged as the champion, beating teammate Siobhan Sullivan 15-8 in a final that featured two freshmen competitors. Skarbonkiewicz reached the finals by overcoming Princeton’s Alexandra Lee with an identical 15-8 score in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Sullivan paved her way to the final with a 15-9 victory over Natalia Botello of Ohio State.
The competition in women’s foil was intense, culminating in Stanford sophomore Arianna Cao narrowly winning against Harvard’s Jessica Zi Jia Guo with a 15-14 score in the final match. Cao’s journey to the championship included a tense 15-13 semifinal victory over Columbia/Barnard’s Zander Rhodes, whereas Guo advanced by overcoming Carolina Stutchbury 12-9 in her semifinal matchup.
The event also witnessed Chase Emmer’s triumph in the men’s foil event, contributing significantly to Notre Dame’s overall success. Notre Dame’s fencing team continues to mark its legacy with 14 national titles, playing a significant role in the university’s tally of 36 national championships across all sports.