NEW YORK—Head Coach Michael Aufrichtig and the Columbia Fencing program announced its 2020 recruiting class on Tuesday as the Lions welcome 10 fencers to the 2020-21 squad.
 
Joining the defending national champion Columbia Fencing program includes six women and four men. Women's fencers include Delphine Pougin de Vore (foil), Ruoqiu Fei (foil), Vera Kong (saber), Anna Li (saber), Megan Liang (saber), and Mina Yamanaka (epee). Men's fencers are Ethan Chin (epee), Trenton Schmitt (saber), Robert Vidovszky (saber), and Howard Zhao (epee).
 
"We are excited to welcome our incoming class of champions," Aufrichtig said. "Although they will not join our fencing family on campus this fall, we will be connected and grow together in preparation to continue our tradition of excellence when we all come together again. What this group is capable of accomplishing is unlimited. What they are all willing to do to achieve triumph is why they are all with us."
 
Columbia enters the 2020-21 academic year as the defending NCAA champions as the Lions claimed the 2018-19 title. Last year's fencing postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
2020 COLUMBIA FENCING SIGNEES

Player	Weapon	Hometown/Previous School
Ethan Chin	Men's Epee	Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley H.S.
Delphine Pougin de Vore	Women's Foil	Westport, Conn./Fusion Academy (N.Y.)
Ruoqiu Fei	Women's Foil	Beijing, China/Ecole Jeannine Manuel (Paris)
Vera Kong	Women's Saber	Irvine, Calif./Sage H.S.
Anna Li	Women's Saber	Lake Oswego, Oregon/Oregon Episcopal School
Megan Liang	Women's Saber	San Diego, Calif./Classical Academy H.S.
Trenton Schmitt	Men's Saber	Lincoln, Calif./Granite Bay H.S.
Robert Vidovszky	Men's Saber	Emerald Hills, Calif./Apostles Lutheran H.S.
Mina Yamanaka	Women's Epee	Bronx, N.Y./Bronx H.S. of Science
Howard Zhao	Men's Epee	Vancouver, British Columbia/Canada-Beijing, China/Sentinel Secondary

 
WOMEN'S FENCERS
 
DELPHINE POUGIN DE VORE
First-Year | Foil | Westport, Conn./Fusion Academy (N.Y.)
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Fusion Academy in Manhattan, N.Y. … Fenced for FC Fencing Club where she was coached she was coached by Simon Gershon … Ranked No. 2 in the world for part of 2019 … Won 2018 Junior World Team Championship with Team USA in foil … Earned Cadet World Champion Bronze Medal in 2018 … Won Pan American Junior Championship in 2018 … Won Cadet National Championship in 2017 … Earned Junior Olympic Champion as a junior in 2017 … Almost defeated Olympic champion Ina Deriglazova, came back from a 13-4 deficit but lost 15-14 … Volunteers at FC Fencing Club with events.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born April 4, 2001, in Manhattan, N.Y. … Daughter of Stephen and Patricia de Vore of Westport, Conn. … Father is a 1999 graduate of Columbia Law School, also attended the Naval Academy, and was a naval aviator … Father is a lawyer and mother is a French teacher … Mother is from the French Island Guadeloupe … Hobbies and interests include fishing and all kinds of music: guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, and bass … Also competes in badminton … Role model is her former government teacher Jane Freeborn because of her support through the years … Favorite sports memory was when she was a part of Team USA and being ranked No. 1 in the world with current teammate Sylvie Binder, May Tieu, and Lauren Scruggs … If she could play another sport at Columbia it would be squash because it looks like fun … Chose Columbia because she loves Manhattan, the Columbia Fencing program, and the core curriculum … Also chose the Lions because of the fencing program and because of Head Coach Michael Aufrichtig … Enrolled at Columbia College … Plans to major in philosophy … Future plans include becoming a lawyer.
 
RUOQIU FEI
First-Year | Foil | Beijing, China/Ecole Jeannine Manuel (Paris, France)
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Ecole Jeannine Manuel in Paris, France, where she fenced for Geoffrey Labourier and Remi Morlot … Earned No. 99 ranking in the Junior FIE in 2019-20 … Ranked No. 5 in the European Circuit foil rankings in 2018-19 … Won three French Championships at the M17 level 2018 and 2019 and M20 level in 2018 … Earned second place in the M20 French Championships in 2019 … Earned third place finish at the M17 French Championships in 2017 … Won first place at the Tauberbischofsheim European Cadet Circuit in 2018 … Earned 17^th place finish at the Bochum Junior World Cup in February 2020 … Competed for the fencing club BLR92 … Involved in a variety of community service activities including peer leading at the Ecole Jeannine Manuel, training youth in fencing at BLR92, teaching meditation at Ecole Jeannine Manuel and fundraising for the blind.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Ruoqui Fei on January 28, 2002 in Beijing, China … Daughter of Zhaohui Fei and Hanqiu Wang of Paris, France … Began fencing when she was seven years old and fell in love with the sport the first time she picked up a foil … Has a variety of nicknames including Q and Olivia … Hobbies and interests include painting, traveling, reading French literature, soccer, badminton, and basketball … Had brief experience as a model … Used to play the Basson … Favorite sports memory was the first time she stood on a podium … Became interested in Columbia after meeting Head Coach Michael Aufrichtig at the 2019 July Challenge … Chose Columbia because she wanted to be a part of the Columbia Fencing community and better herself in fencing in the United States and also to experience American culture … Also chose Columbia-Barnard for its location in New York City .. Enrolled at Barnard College … Plans to major in Economics or Psychology.
 
VERA KONG
First-Year | Saber | Irvine, Calif./Sage H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Sage High School in Newport Coast, Calif. … Competed in fencing for the Laguna Fencing Center where he was coached by Nick Dinu and Hamidreza Taherkani … Finished third at the 2018 Cadet European Cup in Modling, Austria … placed eighth at the 2019 Division I December NAC … Took seventh place at the 2020 Junior January NAC … Placed fifth at the 2020 Division I January NAC … AP Scholar With Distinction … Involved in a variety of community service activities … Worked with the Music to Heal program at UCI Medical Center … Performed music at senior hospitals for patients with Alzheimers and Dementia.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Vera Kong on February 19, 2002, in Michigan … Daughter of Richard Kong and Hyunsoo Lee … Has two younger brothers Max and Ian … Hobbies and interests include playing the violin and piano … Worked several jobs including as a Barista at Gongcha, SAT tutor, and Math tutor for elementary and middle school students … Role model is Elon Musk because she admires his innovation, fearlessness, and wits … Chose Columbia because of the world-class institution, fencing program, location in New York City, and the well-rounded and high-quality education that it provides … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Neuroscience and Human Behavior … Future plan includes attending medical school.
 
ANNA LI
First-Year | Saber | Lake Oswego, Oregon/Oregon Episcopal School
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, Oregon … Competed in fencing for coaches Ed Korfanty and Ian Farr … Competed for the Oregon Fencing Alliance fencing club … Finished in the top-8 at the 2019 Cadet Junior Olympics … Finished the Cadet October NAC in the top-8 … Placed in the top-16 at both the NAC Junior and NAC Division I … Earned three varsity letters in high school golf and served as team captain as a senior … Won individual district golf title while leading his team to the district title in 2017 … Led her team to the high school state championships for the first time in school history … At the state championship, team finished third while she finished sixth individually … Involved in a variety of community service activities … Worked a total 160 hours of service … Served as a co-founder of the food waste committee at OES, where she raised awareness and reduced food waste in her community … Organized and serve meals at Clay Street Table, a local non-profit that serves the homeless community and collaborates with the Asian Senior Living Home in Portland … Served as teachers assistant for the OES fencing class.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Anna Mingyi Li on January 16, 2002 in Fremont, Calif. … Daughter of Sheng Li and Yu Liu of Lake Oswego, Oregon … Has an older sister Emma … Great grandfather Liu Gusheng attended Columbia University as one of the first classes for Chinese International students admitted to study in the United States … Regularly trailed with Mariel Zagunis, a two-time Olympic Champion at the Oregon Fencing Alliance … Can speak Shanghaiese … Attended a golf academy while in the third grade … Favorite food is sushi seared salmon nigiri … Chose Columbia for the team dynamic in the fencing program, opportunities New York City presents, and her family legacy … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
MEGAN LIANG
First-Year | Saber | San Diego,Calif./Classical Academy H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Classical Academy in Escondido, Calif. … Fenced for the West Coast Fencing Academy for coach Nikolav Kovalev … Three-time USFA All-American First Team selection in saber (2017, 2018, and 2019) … Three-time USFCA All-Academic First Team selection (2017, 2018, and 2019) … Earned No. 9 ranking in the Cadet National Rankings and No. 13 in the Junior National Rankings … In 2019, finished eighth at the Cadet Junior Olympics, placed fifth at the Cadet World Cup in Modling, Austria and 16^th in both the Cadet Division 1 NAC in Kansas City, Missouri and Cadet July Challenge in Columbus, Ohio … In 2018, placed ninth at the Cadet Summer Nationals, 15^th at the Cadet World Cup in Eslingen, Germany, 14^th at the Junior Summer Nationals, 16^th at the Junior November NAC, and 11^th at the Cadet October NAC … In 2017, took eighth place in the Cadet World Cup in London, England, 10^th at the Cadet November NAC in Kansas City, Missouri and won Gold in Division II at the March NAC in Cleveland, Ohio … School Valedictorian … Earned AP Scholar and AP Scholar With Distinction academic status … Nominee for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award … Member of the National Honor Society … Involved in a variety of community service and volunteer activities … Organizer and performer (piano) of Share the Music since 2015, a club where young artists perform at senior care facilities on a regular basis … President of Pay it Forward, a club that spreads kindness, helps and feeds the homeless, and organizes clothing and food drives for the San Diego community.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born June 23, 2002, in San Diego, Calif … Daughter of Jimmy and Selina Liang … Has a younger brother Connor … Hobbies and interests include baking and cooking … Also loves to play the piano and travel … Collects shot glasses from each of the places that she's visited … Enjoys fencing for both the physical and mental aspects … Favorite food is ice cream … Enrolled at Columbia College … Chose Columbia for its championship fencing program and the fact that it enables her to compete every day with the best fencers in the country, location in New York City, diversity and fencing team … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Neuroscience and Behavior or Economics.
 
MINA YAMANAKA
First-Year | Epee | Little Neck, N.Y./Bronx High School of Science
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of the Bronx High School of Science … Fenced for the New York Athletic Club, Long Island Fencing Center and Bronx High School of Science, where she fenced for her coach Alexander Abend … Earned Gold Medal and individual title at the 2019 NYAC July Challenge … Guided Bronx Science to the 2019 NYAC July Challenge Senior Women's team epee title … Took Silver at the 2020 Junior Olympics Junior championships.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Mina Yamanaka on October 27, 2002 in New York City … Daughter of Helen Wang … Younger sister of former Columbia fencer Mick Yamanaka (2016-20) … Mother attended the Parsons School of Design … Plays the guitar, cello, and drums … Hobbies and interests include literature, reading and writing … Role model is her mother … Favorite sports figure is Katelyn Ohashi … Competes in fencing because it has made her mentally strong through the years … Favorite movie is Dead Poets Society … Has wanted to be a part of the Columbia Fencing program since middle school as she always looked up to the team as one of her strongest motivators throughout high school … That desire drove her to excel academically and athletically … Chose Columbia over offers from Notre Dame and Air Force … Enrolled Barnard College … Intends to major in Physics … Pursuing a 4-1 Barnard/SEAS degree in mechanical engineering.
 
MEN'S FENCERS
 
ETHAN CHIN
First-Year | Epee | Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Horace Greeley High School in New York City … Competed for the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club for Coach Alex Zurabishvili … Three-time First Team High School All-American in 2018, 2019, and 2020 … Four-time First Team Academic High School All-American (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020) … Finished in first place at the D1A American Challenge ROC … Earned Suma Cum Laude academic honors … Finished in third place at the JNRME Rockland RJCC … Earned top score in the NYSSMA adjudicated music competition at All-State level 6 in 2018 and 2019 … Selected for the 2019 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad new York Regional Section … Accepted into the ACDA East Honors Choir … National School Choral Association Award … Volunteer activities include singing in the local church choir and serving as a peer leader at Horace Greeley H.S.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Ethan Chin on October 14, 2002, in Westchester, N.Y. … Son of Andrew and Peggy Chin … Has a sister Amanda … Father attended NYU and mother graduated from Syracuse … Hobbies and interests include singing in multiple vocal groups and building his own computer from scratch … Became interested in Columbia after attending fencing camp for five straight years … Enjoys fencing because of the complexity of it and the challenging balance to maintain … Favorite food is a cheeseburger and favorite home-cooked meal is lasagna … One word that describes him is compassionate … Chose Columbia because of its Core Curriculum, ability to fence for a championship program, location in New York City, and all the opportunities because of the city … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
TRENTON SCHMITT
First-Year | Saber | Lincoln, Calif./Granite Bay H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A May 2020 graduate of Granite Bay High School … Competed for the Premier Fencing Academy where he was coached by Kristiyan Hristov … Ranked the No. 8 Junior in USA … Ranked the No. 70 Junior in the world rankings … Three-time National Champion in 2020 2016, and 2013 … Named First Team All-American by USA Fencing in 2018 … Earned USA Fencing Academic All-America honors in 2019 … Won Gold Medal at the 2019 Junior Olympics … Earned Bronze Medal at the 2020 Junior World Cup in Boston … Earned Silver Medal at 2020 Cadet Summer Nationals … Also competed in track and field … Went undefeated in the 400-meter relay and won league title … Earned Academic Merit Award … Involved in a variety of community service activities … Volunteered for six years with Boys Teams Charities with a variety of programs including SPCA, Dancing Dog Farms, Cycles 4 Hope, Food Banks and Special Olympics.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Trenton Riley Schmitt on February 8, 2002, in Sacramento, Calif … Son of Matthew and April Schmitt … Has a sister Brooklyn … Family lives on a 20-acre farm in Northern California … Family is avid travelers who have been to over 30 countries, while his mother has been to 50 countries … Father played football at American River College … Nickname is TSchmitt … Employed as a full-time ranch hand at Rancho Robles Vineyard where he was in charge of the vineyard maintenance and care of vines … Hobbies and interests include playing the electric guitar, powerlifting, trap shooting, camping, and fishing … Favorite food is sushi … One word that describes him: determined … Once trekked up a mountain in Rwanda to see mountain gorillas … Favorite part of competing in fencing is the ability to travel to various countries throughout the world … Chose Columbia because of its No. 1 fencing program and Ivy League education … Chose Columbia over an offer from Notre Dame … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in business/finance.
 
ROBERT VIDOVSZKY
First-Year | Saber | Emerald Hills, Calif./Apostles Lutheran H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Apostles Lutheran High School in San Jose, Calif. … Fenced for Premier Fencing Academy for coaches Kris Hristov, Hristo Hristov, and Tsetsi Bakalova … Placed fifth at the 2020 Junior World Cup in France … Won Youth Pan American Championship in Lima, Peru in 2015 … Earned third place finish at the Cadet World Cup in Modling, Austria in 2018 … Finished in second place at the World Championships in Verona, Italy in 2018 … Placed fourth at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018 … Also played soccer, competed in swimming … Involved in community service through his work with the Interact Club.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Robert Tamas Vidovszky on September 20, 2001, in Rochester, Minn. … Son of Tamas Vidovszky and Natalie Torok of Emerald Hills, Calif. … Has two older sisters Anna and Andrea … His father was also fencer … Hobbies and interests include working out, surfing, boating, jet skiing, skiing, and water skiing … Is a Black Belt in Taekwondo … Served as a lifeguard at a local lake … Career goals include making a positive impact in the world … Favorite home-cooked meal is goulash ... Person in history he would most like to meet: Nikola Tesla …. Chose Columbia because of its location in the greatest city in the world, best fencing school in the nation, diverse community, and superb academics … Chose Columbia over offers from Princeton, Penn, Notre Dame, and Penn State … Enrolled at Columbia College … Plans to major in Business Management.
 
HOWARD ZHAO
First-Year | Epee | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada/Beijing China/Sentinel Secondary School
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2020 graduate of Sentinel Secondary School in West Vancouver, British Columbia … Fenced for Dynamo Fencing Club and coach Igor Gantsevich … In Senior Men's Epee, won Gold Medals at the 2019 May Canadian Championship, 2019 September Canada Cup, and 2020 January Canada Cup … Also claimed a Bronze Medal in the 2019 January Canada Cup … Won Cadet Gold Medal in the 2018 USA Fencing National Championships (epee) … Won Cadet Gold Medal in the 2017 October NAC … Earned Cadet Bronze Medal in the 2018 October NAC … Won Cadet Gold Medal in the 2018 January Canada Cup … Placed seventh in Junior Epee at the 2018 USA Fencing National Championships … Took fifth place in the Junior 2018 January NAC … Placed sixth in the Junior 2018 November NAC … Won Junior Gold Medal in the 2019 January Canada Cup … CIMC School Champion … Mathematics League Certificate of Merit … Earned Certficate of Distinction in Pascal Contest, Fryer Contest, and CIMC … Involved in a variety of volunteer and community service activities … Served as Vice President of the Youth Philanthropy Council … Volunteered at Peter Bakonyi World Cup … Organized a TEDx in his community to engage local youth to share their philanthropic/innovative ventures.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Howard Junlang Zhao on November 23, 2002, in Beijing, China … Son of Yong and Wei Zhao … Has two younger brothers Michael and Justin … Both parents attended Jiaotong University … Hobbies and interests include playing the drums, online tutoring, and beach volleyball … One word that describes him: ambitious … Favorite sports memory was winning summer nationals after being down four points with 10 seconds to go … Became interested in Columbia when he first visited the school … Columbia was the first school he visited in the United States … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Finance/Statistics.