PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Harvard fencing squads started their journeys at the 2025 Ivy League Championships with stellar performances.

The two-time defending Ivy League champions, the men went 1-1 on the day, earning a win against Yale and falling just short against Princeton to wrap up the day. The women's team shined at The Palestra, finishing the afternoon session undefeated with convincing wins against Cornell, Brown and Yale.

The men's team kicked off the Ivy League Fencing Championships with a key victory against Yale, 16-11. With a 6-3 record against the Bulldogs, men's epee led the way to the first win of the day, as first-year Nicholas Zhang, junior Ark Ma and sophomore Henry Lawson all collected two wins each.

In a matchup against Princeton, the Crimson ended the first day of action with a 15-12 defeat. Lawson and Zhang continued to shine, as duo earned their fourth wins. Junior men's saber fencer Matthew Linsky also picked up two wins, as he ended the morning session with four wins.

At the conclusion of the first day of action, four Crimson men's fencers recorded a team-high four wins, as sophomore Daniel Zhang joined Nicholas Zhang, Lawson and Linsky.

The women's team started their time in Philadelphia with a convincing 21-6 win against Cornell. Women's foil posted a team-best 8-1 record against the Big Red, as Olympians Lauren Scruggs and Jessica Zi Jia Guo each went a perfect 3-0 in the match. Four different women's saber fencers earned wins against Cornell, combining for a 7-2 record.

The Crimson women kept rolling against Brown, securing a 18-9 win against the Bears. As they did against Cornell, the women's saber squad excelled, posting a team-high 8-1 record against Brown. Sophomore Kaitlyn Pak led the way with three wins, as Scruggs and Guo both extended their undefeated runs at the Ivy League Fencing Championships as well.

Harvard closed out the afternoon session of the opening day of the Ivy League Fencing Championships with a 19-8 win against Yale. First-Year Jenna Shoman was instrumental in the win against the Bulldogs, compiling a perfect 3-0 record.

The opening day of the Ivy League Championships ended with four Crimson women going undefeated across the three matches, as Guo, Scruggs, Shoman, and junior Zoe Kim all closed the day with zero losses.

UP NEXT:

Harvard looks to win hardware tomorrow, as the Crimson close out the Ivy League Championships in Philadelphia. Fans can watch all the action live on ESPN+.

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Kaitlyn Pak: 5-2
Chloe Williams: 5-3
Jenna Shoman: 5-0
Zoe Kim: 4-0
Madison Duckett: 2-1
Lauren Scruggs: 8-0
Jessica Zi Jia Guo: 8-0
Linda He: 3-2
Eileen Ye: 0-3
Isabella Chin: 7-2
Sarah Gu: 4-4
Yasmine Khamis: 3-5
Emily Vermeule: 1-1
 
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Matthew Linsky: 4-2
Prash Subbiah: 3-3
Tommy Choi: 1-1
Connor Liang: 1-3
Daniel Zhang: 4-2
Andrew Chen: 3-3
James Chen: 2-4
Nicholas Zhang: 4-2
Henry Lawson: 4-2
Ark Ma: 2-4
 
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
W vs. Yale, 16-11
Men's Epee (6-3)
Nicholas Zhang (5-3)(4-5)(5-4)
Ark Ma (5-2)(5-1)(1-5)
Henry Lawson (5-2)(0-5)(5-3)
 
Men's Foil (5-4)
Andrew Chen (5-3)(5-1)(1-5)
James Chen (5-2)(4-5)(1-5)
Daniel Zhang (2-5)(5-2)(5-4)
 
Men's Saber (5-4)
Prash Subbiah (2-5)(5-4)(5-0)
Matthew Linsky (2-5)(5-2)(5-4)
Connor Liang (4-5)(1-5)
Tommy Choi (5-2)
 
L vs. Princeton, 15-12
Men's Epee (4-5)
Henry Lawson (2-5)(5-3)(5-4)
Ark Ma (1-5)(4-5)(1-5)
Nicholas Zhang (5-2)(3-5)(5-4)
 
Men's Foil (4-5)
Andrew Chen (4-5)(3-5)(5-3)
James Chen (2-5)(2-5)(5-1)
Daniel Zhang (5-3)(5-3)(3-5)
 
Men's Saber (4-5)
Prash Subbiah (2-5)(5-3)(2-5)
Matthew Linsky (5-4)(5-4)(1-5)
Tommy Choi (0-5)
Connor Liang (3-5)(5-3)
 
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
W vs. Cornell, 21-6
Women's Epee (6-3)
Isabella Chin (5-2)(2-1)(1-2)
Sarah Gu (3-5)(5-3)(5-1)
Yasmine Khamis (2-1)(3-2)(2-3)
 
Women's Foil (8-1)
Laure Scruggs (5-0)(5-3)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (5-3)(5-3)
Linda He (4-3)
Eileen Ye (0-5)
 
Women's Saber (7-2)
Chloe Williams (5-2)(5-4)
Zoe Kim (5-4)(5-4)
Kaitlyn Pak (5-1)(5-4)(3-5)
Madison Duckett (2-5)
Jenna Shoman (5-4)
 
W vs. Brown, 18-9
Women's Epee (4-5)
Yasmine Khamis (4-5)(2-3)
Isabella Chin (4-0)(5-3)(2-5)
Sarah Gu (5-3)(5-2)(4-5)
 
Women's Foil (6-3)
Lauren Scruggs (5-1)(5-2)(5-0)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (5-0)(5-2)(5-4)
Linda He (0-5)
Eileen Ye (4-5)(2-5)

Women's Saber (8-1)
Chloe Williams (2-5)(5-2)(5-2)
Kaitlyn Pak (5-1)(5-2)(5-3)
Zoe Kim (5-3)(5-3)
Jenna Shoman (5-1)
 
W vs. Yale, 19-8
Women's Epee (5-4)
Isabella Chin (5-1)(1-0)(5-3)
Emily Vermeule (5-1)
Yasmine Khamis (5-3)(4-5)(1-5)
Sarah Gu (4-5)(3-4)
 
Women's Foil (8-1)
Lauren Scruggs (5-4)(5-0)(5-0)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (5-0)(5-2)(5-3)
Linda He (0-5)(5-0)(5-3)
 
Women's Saber (6-3)
Chloe Williams (4-5)(5-1)(1-5)
Jenna Shoman (5-1)(5-2)(5-1)
Kaitlyn Pak (3-5)
Madison Duckett (5-3)(5-1)