Columbia University’s fencing team will send 24 athletes—12 men and 12 women—to the NCAA Northeast Regionals on Sunday, March 8. The event, hosted by Vassar College, will feature top fencers from across the region in a one-day competition starting at 10 a.m. with pool play and concluding with knockout rounds in the afternoon.
Both Columbia’s men’s and women’s teams are currently ranked No. 1 nationally according to the United States Fencing Coaches Association’s SPI metric and coaches poll. The women ended their dual meet season with a record of 28-1, while the men finished at 24-3.
The Lions’ roster includes seven returning medalists from last year’s NCAA Regionals: Marsel Nagimov (gold, men’s foil), Zander Rhodes (gold, women’s foil), Tierna Oxenreider (gold, women’s epee), Will Morrill (silver, men’s sabre), Carolina Stuchbury (bronze, women’s foil), Samarth Kumbla (bronze, men’s foil) and Tamar Gordon (bronze, women’s sabre). In total, eleven team members have previous experience competing at NCAA Regionals.
Zander Rhodes has medaled in each of her three prior appearances at this event. Seniors Evelyn Cheng and Skyler Liverant are both four-time participants; Liverant won silver in men’s epee in 2023. Nick Harvey is making his third appearance in men’s sabre.
Senior Colby Harley returns to Regionals for the first time since earning silver in men’s sabre in 2023 after missing two postseasons due to injury.
“The NCAA Northeast Regional competition helps determine the fencers who qualify for the NCAA Division I National Championship, which will take place at Notre Dame from March 19-22.”
Only Columbia’s top two finishers per weapon category can advance to Nationals. Official qualifiers will be announced by the NCAA on Tuesday, March 10.
For updates on Columbia fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on X or Instagram or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.