This season, the National Intercollegiate Women’s Fencing Association (NIWFA) Championships were held at Drew University in Madison, NJ. The women’s fencing squad at Brandeis University fared well in their first trip to the NIWFA, placing fourth overall, while also securing two medals – the saber squad earned silver, while individually, Maggie Shealy ’23 won silver.

The saber squad, comprised of veteran Jada Harrison ’22, Shealy and rookie fencer Kayla Turnof ’25 led the judges, posting 29 wins on the day. Shealy’s team performance allowed her to qualify for the individual competition where she was the second seed and Turnof also earned a spot in the individual competition as the fifth seed. Unfortunately, Turnof was upset in the first round, 15-2, by a fencer from Smith College; Shelly, though, successfully defeated her first opponent from Temple, 15-8, and clinched the win over Stevens in the second round, allowing her to advance to the medal round. In the semifinals, though, Shealy fell to another Temple saber fencer who went on to secure the gold in the individual competition; Shealy proudly represented herself and the Judges on the podium, earning a silver medal; the saber squad won bronze at the NIWFA Championships.     

Brandeis’ foil squad placed sixth at the NIWFA Championships, while the epee squad placed seventh overall.  Individually, both Bronwyn Rothman-Hall ’25 and Monica Aponte ’23 were eliminated in the first round of the epee individual competition; Rothman-Hall fell to epee gold medalist from Long Island University, 15-9, while Aponte fell to the runner up, 15-13.  Alex McKee ’25 advanced to the foil elimination round as the second seed, but was upset in the first round, 15-10, by an opponent from Temple University.  

The Brandeis women’s fencing squad returns to action on Sunday, March 12 at Vassar College where the 2022 NCAA Regionals will be held this season.