Skip To Main Content

Columbia University Athletics

Ivy League, opens in new tab.

2023-24 Fencing Roster

Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

Vera Kong

  • Position SABRE
  • Class Senior
  • High School Sage Hill
  • Hometown Irvine, Calif.
  • School Columbia College
  • Major Earth Institute

Biography

INTERNATIONAL FIE BIO/RESULTS
 
YEAR-BY-YEAR STATISTICS
Season
Dual Record
Ivy League
Northeast Regional
NCAA Championship
2021-22
33-16
8-7
19-4, 2nd Place
12-11, 12th Place
2022-23
31-13
8-5
13-10, 5th place
9-14, 17th place
2023-24 26-11 8-4 14-8, 8th place 16-7, 3rd place
Career
90-40
24-16
46-22
37-32

2023-24

First team All-American after placing reaching semifinals of NCAA Championships…Helped women win Ivy League Team Championship, going 8-4 in her individual bouts…Placed eighth at NCAA Northeast Regionals…Team captain…Competed in four regular season meets…Posted 7-2 mark at St. John’s Super Cup…Went 12-3 at Western Invitational.
 
2022-23

Qualified for NCAA Championships for second consecutive year … Went 13-10 at NCAA Northeast Regional to earn fifth-place finish … Competed at Ivy League Round Robins … Compiled 31-13 dual meet record … Went 12-1 at Western Invitational.
 
2021-22

Honorable Mention All-America selection after 12th place finish at NCAA Championships … Silver medalist at NCAA Northeast Regional … Competed at Ivy League Round Robins … Went 7-2 at Penn Invite … Posted 5-2 mark at Penn Invite … Registered 10-2 record at Western Invitational … Made collegiate debut, going 12-2, at MG Open.
 
2020-21

Season canceled by Ivy League due to COVID-19 pandemic.
 
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.

Historical Player Information

  • 2020-21First Year

    Sabre
  • 2021-22Sophomore

    Sabre
  • 2022-23Junior

    Sabre
  • 2023-24Senior

    Sabre