COLUMBUS, OHIO – At the second day of the 2024 NCAA Fencing Championships, Harvard fencing made history, as first-year
Jessica Zi Jia Guo and junior team captain
Emily Vermeule won individual national titles at French Field House in Columbus, Ohio. Vermeule, a native of Cambridge, Mass., becomes the NCAA Women's Epee National Champion for the first time in her three-year collegiate career. Guo caps off her incredible debut season by winning the NCAA Women's Foil National Championship.
Harvard women's fencing came together and orchestrated a stellar showing in Columbus, Ohio. The Crimson women won 87 bouts and tallied an outstanding +134 indicator, putting Harvard in first in the race for the 2024 NCAA Fencing National Championship with two days remaining.
Showing incredible perseverance and determination, Vermeule wins the 2024 NCAA Women's Epee National Championship behind a stellar showing over two days. After finishing in third at the 2023 NCAA Fencing Championships, Vermeule complied a 16-7 record over five rounds of pool play, sending her to the final four. Vermeule posted a +29 indicator, a weapon high. In the semifinals, Vermeule faced St. John's Feygin. Vermeule controlled the entirety of the bout, punching her ticket to the finals with a 15-6 victory against Feygin. With gold on the line, Vermeule faced Ivy League rival Tierna Oxenreider from Columbia in the finals. In a thrilling contest, Vermeule outlasted Oxenreider to win the 2024 NCAA Women's Epee National Championship.
Along with Vermeule's triumph, first-year epee fencer
Isabella Chin made her NCAA Championships debut in Columbus, taking home second team All-America honors after finishing in sixth. A native of Manhasset, N.Y., Chin went 14-9 with a +15 indicator.
As she's done all season, Guo dominated on her march to the 2024 NCAA Women's Foil National Championship. Across five pool rounds, Guo posted an astonishing 20-3 record with a +62 indicator, the best mark among all fencers at the 2024 NCAA Fencing Championships. Guo faced Notre Dame's Rebecca Candescu in the semifinals, defeating Fighting Irish fencer 15-7 to secure a spot in the finals. It was a Crimson showdown in the finals, as Guo took on teammate and 2023 NCAA Women's Foil National Champion
Lauren Scruggs. Guo defeated Scruggs to lift the trophy, 15-7.
Scruggs enjoyed a great two days at the NCAA Fencing Championships, taking first team All-America honors after logging a 17-6 record and a +41 indicator.
In women's saber action, sophomore
Zoe Kim earned honorable mention All-America status after going 13-10 with a +4 indicator, finishing in 12
th place. Fellow sophomore
Chloe Williams finished in 20
th place.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Vermeule is the NCAA Women's Epee National Champion for the first time in her three-year Harvard career.
- A native of Cambridge, Mass., Vermeule is the first NCAA Women's Epee National Champion in program history and the ninth woman national champion in program history.
- In her NCAA Fencing Championships debut, Guo captures the NCAA Women's Foil National Championship.
- Guo is the fourth women's foil national champion in program history, joining her teammate Scruggs, Alexandra Kiefer '14, and Emily Cross '09. Guo is the tenth woman national champion in school history.
- Harvard sits in first place after two days of competition for the race to the 2024 NCAA Fencing National Champion, as the women won 87 bouts and tallied a tournament-best +134 indicator.
UP NEXT:
Harvard men's fencing takes center stage at the 2024 NCAA Fencing Championships on Saturday, Mar. 23 and Sunday, Mar. 24, as the Crimson look to win the NCAA Fencing National Championship for the first time since 2006.
RESULTS:
Women's Epee
Emily Vermeule – NCAA Women's Epee National Champion (16-7, +29 Indicator)
Isabella Chin –Sixth Place (14-9, +15 Indicator)
Women's Foil
Jessica Zi Jia Guo – NCAA Women's Foil National Champion (20-3, +62 Indicator)
Lauren Scruggs – Second Place (17-6, +41 Indicator)
Women's Saber
Zoe Kim – 12
th Place (13-10, +4 Indicator)
Chloe Williams – 20
th Place (7-16, -17 Indicator)
