CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard fencing embarks on the 2025-26 season on the road, as the Crimson head to Columbus, Ohio for the Elite Invitational hosted by Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9. Fencing begins at French Field House at 8 a.m. on both Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9.

CRIMSON UPDATES:

• The 2025-26 season marks a key change for collegiate fencing, as the NCAA will now sponsor separate NCAA national championships for men's and women's teams. Previously, fencing was only one of three NCAA sports with a co-ed national champion. Last season saw Harvard finish in third place at the 2025 NCAA Championships in State College, Pennsylvania.
• The Crimson women's team enters this season as the defending Ivy League champions, as Harvard returns 10 student-athletes from last year's squad.
• The 2024 NCAA women's foil national champion and a silver medalist in the women's foil competition at the 2025 NCAA Championships, junior Jessica Zi Jia Guo is back for her third season in Cambridge as last year saw Guo compile an 18-5 record at the 2025 NCAA Championships and a perfect 18-0 record at the 2025 Ivy League Championships.
• The women's saber squad features three NCAA Championships participants from the last two seasons. Junior Kaitlyn Pak garnered All-America Second Team honors and sophomore Jenna Shoman finished in 12^th place at the 2025 NCAA Championships, as two-time NCAA qualifier senior Zoe Kim is also back for the Crimson.
• The Crimson's women's epee squad also features three NCAA participants from the last two campaigns. In her inaugural season with the Crimson last year, sophomore Sarah Gu garnered All-America Second Team honors, as fellow classmate Yasmine Khamis earned a 12^th place showing and All-America honorable mention status at the 2025 NCAA Championships. One of Harvard's team captains, junior Isabella Chin was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024.
• Harvard also welcomes three decorated and skilled first-years. First-years Emily Jing and Lucia Zhang will feature in women's foil competition, while Zara Pehlivani will join the women's epee crew.
• On the men's side, Harvard returns four All-Americans from the last two campaigns.
• Last year saw sophomore Andrew Chen excel in his NCAA Championships debut, as he was an All-America First Team honoree after taking second place in the men's foil competition. In 2024, junior and one of Harvard's team captains Daniel Zhang garnered All-America First Team honors.
• Harvard boasts two All-Americans on the men's epee squad. Junior Henry Lawson is a two-time All-America First Team honoree, as he finished in second place at last season's NCAA Championships. A 2024 Paris Olympian with Team Canada, sophomore Nicholas Zhang garnered All-America Second Team recognition in his debut season.
• First-years Roy Graham and Steven Miall join the men's foil squad, as first-years Cody Ji and Taylor Chon are new additions for the men's saber team.
• Both Harvard teams open the year at No. 3 in their respective United States Fencing Coaches Association's Coaches Poll.
• Two Crimson will compete in marquee international competitions as well.
• Sophomore Colin Heathcock heads to Algers, Algeria for the Senior Men's Saber World Cup. Heathcock is currently the top ranked men's saber fencer in the United States and holds the No. 5 spot in the world rankings. He will fence in both the team and the individual events.
• Jing travels to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for the opening Senior World Cup in women's foil. Jing currently ranks fourth in the nation and will compete in both the individual and team events.

UP NEXT:

Harvard will host the 2025 iteration of the Beanpot on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Malkin Athletic Center.

For all the latest on Harvard Fencing, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardFencing) and Instagram (@harvardfencing).