Columbia University
Northwestern (Women)
Fencing Runs the Table at Western Invitational
11/23/2025 8:44:00 PM | Fencing
Women go 9-0, men finish 8-0 to stay perfect on the season
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. — The Columbia fencing teams went a combined 17-0 during two days of competition at the Western Invitational from November 22-23. The Lion men knocked off Air Force and UC San Diego twice and also picked up wins over Stanford, Incarnate Word, Brandeis and Ohio State to move to 11-0. The women improved to 12-0 after victories over Northwestern, Stanford, Tufts, Air Force, Incarnate Word, Denison, Brandeis and Ohio State.
WIll Morrill posted a 15-0 mark and Nick Harvey went 16-2 in men's sabre. Sasha Bezrodnov was 14-2 in men's epee. Marsel Nagimov and Caleb Jeon each went 10-3 in men's foil. For the women, Tamar Gordon went 17-0 in sabre. In foil, four fencers recorded double-figure win, led by a 15-1 mark by Rachael Kim. All five epeeists had strong days, highlighted by a 15-3 effort by Nicole Xuan and a Tierna Oxenreider's 11-1 record.
The women kicked off the meet with a 22-5 victory over Northwestern on Saturday. Both teams faced Stanford and UC San Diego in the second and third rounds, respectively. The men opened things up with a 24-3 win over the Cardinal and then took down the Tritons, 23-4. The women picked up an 18-9 win over Stanford and rolled to a 23-4 victory over UCSD before a break in the action.
Round four included a 22-5 downing of Incarnate Word for the men, while the women earned a 21-6 triumph against Tufts. A matchup against Air Force followed, with the women downing the Cadets, 24-3, and the men claiming a 21-6 win.
Saturday concluded with the women dominating Incarnate Word, 25-2, and the men topping Brandeis, 18-9.
Columbia continued to roll in its first matchups on Sunday. The men defeated Air Force, 18-9, while the women secured a 22-5 win against Denison.
The men prevailed in a rematch with the Tritons,14-13, thanks to 5-4 wins in sabre and foil. The round was less dramatic for the women, who dispatched Brandeis, 24-3.
The Columbia men faced their toughest test against Ohio State in the tournament's final matchup. The Lions trailed 13-11, but rallied to tie the contest, heading into a final three bouts in foil. Two-time All-American Samarth Kumbla came away with a 5-4 win in the last match to keep Columbia undefeated.
On the women's side, the Lions topped the Buckeyes, 20-7, to wrap up the event.
The Lions will return to action on Sunday, December 7, for the Brian Palestis Memorial, hosted by Wagner on Staten Island.
Western Invitational Results
Women (9-0)
Columbia 21, Northwestern 6,
Columbia 18, Stanford 9
Columbia 23, UC San Diego 4
Columbia 21, Tufts 6
Columbia 24, Air Force 3
Columbia 25, Incarnate Word 2
Columbia 22, Denison 5
Columbia 24, Brandeis 3
Columbia 20, Ohio State 7
Men (8-0)
Columbia 24, Stanford 3
Columbia 23, UC San Diego 4
Columbia 22, Incarnate Word 5
Columbia 21, Air Force 6
Columbia 19, Brandeis 8
Columbia 18, Air Force 9
Columbia 14, UC San Diego 13
Columbia 14, Ohio State 13
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Players Mentioned
