ST. LOUIS — Columbia fencing's Nora Burke "came out of retirement" to win the individual Division I Women's Sabre Championship at the April North American Cup last week. In total, the Lions had four current fencers record top-eight podium finishes and two more incoming student-athletes earn medals.
 
After winning the NCAA Individual Championship last month, Burke famously said she was done with the sport. However, she showed no rust after the time off and swept through the preliminary rounds to earn the No. 3 seed in the tournament round. After a one-touch win in the round of 64, the senior won more decisively in every following match until the final where she faced Notre Dame's Kara Linder. In the finale, Burke came out on top, 15-14, to secure the top spot.
 
The rest of Columbia's podium finishers included Ethan Kushnerik (sixth - Division I Men's Epee, Tierna Oxenreider (seventh - Junior Women's Epee), Vera Kong (fifth - Division 1 Women's Sabre) and Chloe Gouhin (seventh - Division I Women's Sabre). 
 
Incoming student-athletes Jaden Callahan picked up a silver medal in Junior Men's Sabre and Rachel Kim won bronze in Junior Women's Foil. 
 
Overall, Columbia saw 20 fencers in the top 32, including four alumni. 
 
For the latest on Columbia's fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on Twitter and Instagram and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
 
COLUMBIA'S USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Women's Epee
Division I Men's Epee-188 Competitors 
6th - Ethan Kushnerik 
12th - Justin Haddad
 
Junior Women's Saber- 127 Competitors 
23rd - Madison Four-Garcia 
 
Division I Men's Saber- 154 Competitors 
2nd - Josef Cohen '21CC
 
Junior Women's Epee- 145 Competitors 
7th - Tierna Oxenreider 
 
Division I Men's Foil- 134 Competitors 
3rd - James Bourtis '22CC 
6th - Sidarth Kumbla '22CC
20th - Samarth Kumbla (Incoming)
27th - Ethan Xiao (Incoming)
 
Junior Men's Saber- 213 Competitors 
2nd - Jaden Callahan- Incoming 
 
Junior Women's Foil- 123 Competitors 
3rd - Rachael Kim (Incoming)
 
Division I Women's Saber- 110 Competitors 
1st - Nora Burke 
5th - Vera Kong 
6th - Chloe Gouhin 
 
Division I Women's Epee- 123 Competitors 
11th – Anne Cebula '20BC
31st - Mina Yamanaka 

Division I Women's Foil- 107 Competitors 
3rd - Sara Taffel '17CC 
12th - Delphine Devore 
17th - Zander Rhodes
 
Junior Men's Epee- 219 Competitors  
17th - Skyler Liverant