Sunday, November 8
New York, N.Y.
12:00 P.M.
Columbia
vs
LIU
11/6/2026 9:05:00 AM | Fencing
The Lions will face LIU, Hunter and NJIT at the Columbia Invitational
NEW YORK — The Columbia fencing team begins the 2026-27 season at home for the Columbia Invitational on Sunday, November 8. The Lions will take on LIU at 12 p.m., then face Hunter at 1:20 p.m., and close the day against NJIT at 2:40 p.m.
FAN INFORMATION
Spectators without a valid Columbia University ID or registered QR code must enter campus through the Northwest Science Building at West 120th & Broadway. A Columbia Athletics staff member will be stationed in the Northwest Science Building lobby on the corner of Broadway and West 120th Street one hour before the event. Fans will need to go up to the fourth floor of the Science Building, walk across Pupin Plaza to the front entrance of the Dodge Fitness Center, and then proceed to the Blue Gym. Maps will be available for visitors in the entry lobby. After the event, spectators should exit the Dodge Fitness Center by retracing their route through the Northwest Science Building to W. 120th Street.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Round 1 – 12 p.m.
Columbia vs. LIU (Blue Gym)
Round 2 – 1:20 p.m.
Columbia vs. Hunter (Blue Gym)
NJIT vs. LIU (Fencing Room)
Round 3 – 2:30 p.m.
Columbia vs. NJIT (Blue Gym)
LIONS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
The United States Fencing Coaches Association released its preseason polls on November 4. The men's and women's teams were each ranked No. 2. New this year, the USFCA is ranking the top 15 weapon squads. Columbia topped the women's foil squad poll, with women's sabre and men's sabre holding the No. 2 spots.
2025-26 RECAP
Both programs finished second at the NCAA Championships a year ago and are the defending Ivy League Champions. The women earned an outright championship after finishing a perfect 6-0, while the men went 4-1 to tie Harvard for first place. The double victory marked the sixth time since 2015 and the 13th time overall that Columbia has swept both the men's and women's events. The women secured their 15th Ivy League title, while the men captured their 43rd, both the most among Ivy League programs.
The Lions return eight of their 12 NCAA Championships qualifiers and seven All-Americans from last season. Senior Samarth Kumbla is the defending NCAA Men's Foil Champion, highlighting Columbia's veterans. Junior Carolina Stutchbury placed second in women's foil for her second consecutive first-team All-America honor and is the reigning Ivy League Individual Champion. Will Morrill (men's sabre) and Nicole Xuan (women's epee) each took bronze at last year's NCAA Championships.
A LOOK BACK
At last year's Columbia Invitational, both teams went 3-0 against Stevens, NJIT and Johns Hopkins. Rachael Kim went 7-0 in women's foil, while Marsel Nagimov went 5-0 in men's foil, highlighting Columbia's returning fencers. The Highlanders are the only squad the Lions faced during the 2025-26 regular season.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia's fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on X, Instagram and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
FAN INFORMATION
Spectators without a valid Columbia University ID or registered QR code must enter campus through the Northwest Science Building at West 120th & Broadway. A Columbia Athletics staff member will be stationed in the Northwest Science Building lobby on the corner of Broadway and West 120th Street one hour before the event. Fans will need to go up to the fourth floor of the Science Building, walk across Pupin Plaza to the front entrance of the Dodge Fitness Center, and then proceed to the Blue Gym. Maps will be available for visitors in the entry lobby. After the event, spectators should exit the Dodge Fitness Center by retracing their route through the Northwest Science Building to W. 120th Street.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Round 1 – 12 p.m.
Columbia vs. LIU (Blue Gym)
Round 2 – 1:20 p.m.
Columbia vs. Hunter (Blue Gym)
NJIT vs. LIU (Fencing Room)
Round 3 – 2:30 p.m.
Columbia vs. NJIT (Blue Gym)
LIONS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
The United States Fencing Coaches Association released its preseason polls on November 4. The men's and women's teams were each ranked No. 2. New this year, the USFCA is ranking the top 15 weapon squads. Columbia topped the women's foil squad poll, with women's sabre and men's sabre holding the No. 2 spots.
2025-26 RECAP
Both programs finished second at the NCAA Championships a year ago and are the defending Ivy League Champions. The women earned an outright championship after finishing a perfect 6-0, while the men went 4-1 to tie Harvard for first place. The double victory marked the sixth time since 2015 and the 13th time overall that Columbia has swept both the men's and women's events. The women secured their 15th Ivy League title, while the men captured their 43rd, both the most among Ivy League programs.
The Lions return eight of their 12 NCAA Championships qualifiers and seven All-Americans from last season. Senior Samarth Kumbla is the defending NCAA Men's Foil Champion, highlighting Columbia's veterans. Junior Carolina Stutchbury placed second in women's foil for her second consecutive first-team All-America honor and is the reigning Ivy League Individual Champion. Will Morrill (men's sabre) and Nicole Xuan (women's epee) each took bronze at last year's NCAA Championships.
A LOOK BACK
At last year's Columbia Invitational, both teams went 3-0 against Stevens, NJIT and Johns Hopkins. Rachael Kim went 7-0 in women's foil, while Marsel Nagimov went 5-0 in men's foil, highlighting Columbia's returning fencers. The Highlanders are the only squad the Lions faced during the 2025-26 regular season.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia's fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on X, Instagram and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
FOIL
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
SABRE
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
EPEE
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