POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 9, 2025) – The Tufts University women’s fencing team kicked off its 2025-26 season with a strong performance at the Vassar Invitational on Sunday, winning five out of eight matches.
The Jumbos triumphed over Drew University (24-3), Sacred Heart University (24-3), Yeshiva University (27-0), Lafayette College (25-2), and Fairleigh Dickinson University (19-8). Their only losses came against Wagner College (14-13), Yale University (18-9), and Cornell University (18-9).
In total, the Tufts foil and saber groups earned 53 wins in 72 bouts, achieving a 73.6% winning rate. The epee team’s record was 44 wins to 28 losses, giving them a 61.1% performance. Altogether, the Jumbos recorded a 150-66 mark, translating to a 69.4% success rate.
Senior All-American Karen Bei led the team with 14 wins and only 4 losses in epee, giving her a winning percentage of 77.8%. Newcomer Emily You also impressed, securing 12 wins in epee for a 60% rate. Other highlights included junior tri-captain Mikayla Joseph, who scored 10 epee victories, and freshman Olivia Judicke, who won 8 out of 11 bouts, achieving a 72.7% winning rate.
On the saber side, Emily Xu shone with an impressive 12-4 record (75%). First-year Asher Boynton also made a strong start with an 11-6 mark. Co-captains Anahat Bawa and Olympe Jean contributed with five and four wins, respectively.
In foil, eight different Jumbos competed, with sophomore Jess Charalel leading with an 11-1 record (91.7%). First-year Kiki Liu made a notable debut, winning all 10 of her bouts. Katie Han also had a strong showing, finishing 10-2 in saber, while Chloe Wang recorded an 8-1 mark as well.
Despite losses to Yale and Cornell, Tufts showcased solid performances, especially in close matches. The saber team edged Yale 5-4, partly thanks to three wins from Boynton. Bei also picked up two crucial victories in her epee matches against Yale, and Xu garnered two wins in saber against Cornell.
The Jumbos faced a nail-biting loss to Wagner, but multiple fencers, including Xu, Kapoor, Han, Roy, and Bei, secured wins. In their match against Fairleigh Dickinson, Tufts clinched victory with contributions from Bei in epee and multiple saber wins from Bawa, Boynton, and Xu.
Next, the Jumbos are set to compete at the Air Force Academy for the Western Invitational on November 22-23.
Fencing has grown in popularity, especially among younger athletes. According to the USA Fencing Association, participation in youth fencing has increased by nearly 20% over the past five years, indicating a rising interest in the sport. This trend could lead to even more competitive seasons ahead for teams like the Jumbos.
For more on fencing and its growing influence, check out resources from the USA Fencing Association.
