PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Harvard women's fencing captured the 2025 Ivy League Championship outright on Sunday! The Crimson women dominated, delivering the programs first solo win since 2009, and capturing the fifth conference title in program history.

Ending the tournament with a staggering undefeated record of 6-0, the women's team opened the tournament as the No. 3 seed and outclassed the competition from start to finish. With a series of unforgettable and memorable performances, the women's team defeated their opponents by an average margin of 10, including a statement making 19-8 victory against number one seed Princeton.

The triumph at the 2025 Ivy League Fencing Championships marks head coach Daria Schneider's first Ivy League Women's Fencing Championship, as the Crimson are Ivy League champions for the first time since 2016.

"I'm most proud of the unseen effort behind the scenes with this women's team," Schneider said. "The years of dedication, leadership, and intentional culture built by recent alumni and an extraordinary group of upperclassmen. Two athletes, in particular, stood out as leaders from the bench."

"Emily Vermeule, last year's NCAA champion and a two-time First Team All-Ivy honoree, embraced a supporting role with unwavering confidence in her younger teammates. She leveraged her experience to guide her squad mates and was always ready to step in and take on any opponent when called upon," Schneider said. "Zoe Kim, a five-time World Team member and last year's individual Ivy champion, led in a similar way—while undefeated in her five appearances this weekend and definitely with an opportunity to win another individual ivy title, Zoe's only concern was fully committed to the team's success over individual accolades. She was happy to captain her squad and let others start so she could serve as a formidable back up that no opponent would want to face."

"These two were road warriors, embodying what it means to compete for something greater than themselves. They fought not for personal glory, but for the team, setting a powerful and unique example of selflessness and resilience in an inherently individual and self-focused sport."

After entering the tournament as two-time defending champions, the men's team ended the competition in fourth place after a win against Yale on the opening day.

Five Crimson women garnered All-Ivy League. A tandem 2024 Paris Olympians, sophomore Jessica Zi Jia Guo and senior Lauren Scruggs garnered spots on the All-Ivy League First Team, while sophomore Isabella Chin, sophomore Kaitlyn Pak, and junior Chloe Williams all earned a spot on the All-Ivy League Second Team.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Guo won her first Ivy League individual title in women's foil competition. Guo ended the Ivy League Championships with a 17-0 record and a +52 indicator, making her the only undefeated fencer, man or woman, at the prestigious tournament. Guo and Scruggs finished first and second, respectively, in winning percentage among all men's and women's fencers.

"I would be remiss to not mention Jessica and Laurens dominant performances in a stacked field full of Olympians," Schneider said. "My admiration and respect for them run deep, and it only grows each time I have the privilege of watching them compete."

On the men's side, a pair of Crimson sophomores picked up All-Ivy League nods. An All-American First Team selection last season, sophomore Daniel Zhang picked up All-Ivy League First Team status, while sophomore and team captain Henry Lawson was selected to the All-Ivy League Second Team.

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 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.

The women's team started their journey to the first outright Ivy League title with a convincing 21-6 win against Cornell. Women's foil posted a team-best 8-1 record against the Big Red, as Olympians Scruggs and 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, defeating the Bears, 18-9. As they did against the Big Red, the women's saber squad excelled, posting a team-high 8-1 record against Brown. 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, putting them in stellar position for the final day of the tournament. First-Year Jenna Shoman was instrumental in the win against the Bulldogs, compiling a perfect 3-0 record.

The men's team entered the final day of the Ivy League Fencing Championships with a 1-1 record, as the Crimson dropped its final matches of the competition against Columbia and Penn.

Over on the women's side, the Crimson started the day with a phenomenal and unforgettable all-around performance against the top-seed Princeton, improving to 4-0 with a critical 19-8 victory against the Tigers. Both the women's saber and epee squads shined, combining for a 14-2 record in the matchup against Princeton. After going 5-0 on the opening day, Shoman added three more wins, improving her record at the Ivy League Fencing Championships to 8-0. In women's foil action, Guo remained undefeated with three more wins, as Harvard moved into pole position to win the Ivy League title.

"It was the greatest honor to be a part of the team's victory this weekend, one that we've been working towards for the four years I've been at Harvard," Vermeule said. "Although my time with the team is ending, I've had the pleasure in my last year of seeing a new era of Harvard women's fencing. These girls are just getting started!"

"It's rare to coach a team that so consistently impresses me with their hunger to win and their professionalism," Schneider said. "They are a joy to coach and it was exhilarating to see them accomplish this feat."

In a highly anticipated matchup against Columbia in the fifth round, the Crimson rose to the occasion, earning the Ivy League title with a thrilling and clutch 14-13 win against the Lions. In women's saber action, Shoman and Pak picked up two crucial wins each, as Guo remained undefeated with an additional three wins. The win secured the Crimson's first Ivy League Women's Fencing Championship since 2016.

Harvard secured its outright claim to the Ivy League Women's Fencing Championship for the first time since 2009 with a definitive 20-7 win against tournament host Penn. All three weapon groups shined once again in the Ivy League Championship finale. With three wins against the Quakers, Guo made history with a perfect 17-0 record at the 2025 Ivy League Fencing Championships. Shoman ended the competition with a stellar record of 12-1.

"I could just tell that we were going to win. Both days our energy was off the charts and you could see how hungry we were for the title. The fact we won it outright speaks to that determination," Scruggs said. "For me personally, this is a dream come true. Unfortunately, this is only my second ivies due to the Olympic qualification season, so I'm happy that I was finally able to contribute to the big win after missing out these past two years."

UP NEXT:  

The Crimson return to collegiate action next month, competing at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships on Sunday, Mar. 9.
 
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Kaitlyn Pak: 9-5
Chloe Williams: 10-6
Jenna Shoman: 12-1
Zoe Kim: 5-0
Madison Duckett: 5-1
Jessica Guo: 18-0
Lauren Scruggs: 16-2
Linda He: 3-11
Eileen Ye: 0-3
Isabella Chin: 10-5
Sarah Gu: 10-7
Yasmine Khamis: 9-8
Emily Vermeule: 3-2
 
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Matthew Linsky: 4-5
Prash Subbiah: 5-7
Connor Liang: 4-6
Andrew Deng: 1-0
Tommy Choi: 2-2
Daniel Zhang: 8-4
Andrew Chen: 5-7
James Chen: 5-7
Henry Lawson: 9-3
Nicholas Zhang: 4-5
Ark Ma: 3-6
Alexander Tafur: 1-2
Gabriel Evers: 0-3
 
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)
 
L vs. Columbia, 17-10
Men's Epee (3-6)
Henry Lawson (5-4)(5-4)(0-1)
Nicholas Zhang (1-5)(1-5)(3-5)
Ark Ma (5-2)(4-5)(4-5)
 
Men's Foil (4-5)
Andrew Chen (3-5)(4-5)(4-5)
Daniel Zhang (5-2)(5-2)(1-5)
James Chen (2-5)(5-4)(5-1)
 
Men's Saber (3-6)
Prash Subbiah (3-5)(5-4)(3-5)
Matthew Linsky (4-5)(2-5)(0-5)
Connor Liang (5-1)(3-5)(5-3)
 
L vs. Penn, 15-12
 Men's Epee (4-5)
Alexander Tafur (3-5)(5-4)(3-5)
Henry Lawson (5-2)(5-4)(5-3)
Gabriel Evers (2-5)(1-5)(1-5)
 
Men's Foil (4-5)
Andrew Chen (3-5)(5-2)(5-3)
Daniel Zhang (5-1)(1-5)(5-1)
James Chen (5-1)(2-5)(2-5)
 
Men's Saber (4-5)
Connor Liang (3-5)(4-5)(5-3)
Prash Subbiah (5-1)(3-5)(1-5)
Tommy Choi (5-4)(4-5)
Andrew Deng (5-4)
 
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)
 
W vs. Princeton, 19-8
Women's Epee (7-2)
Yasmine Khamis (2-3)(4-2)(5-3)
Isabella Chin (4-3)(5-0)(4-5)
Sarah Gu (1-0)(5-4)(5-2)
 
Women's Foil (5-4)
Lauren Scruggs (5-3)(5-4)(4-5)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (4-3)(5-3)(5-2)
Linda He (1-5)(2-5)(0-5)
 
Women's Saber (7-2)
Chloe Williams (5-4)(2-5)(5-1)
Kaitlyn Pak (3-5)(5-3)(5-3)
Jenna Shoman (5-3)(5-3)(5-3)
 
W vs. Columbia, 14-13
Women's Epee (4-5)
Isabella Chin (5-4)(2-5)(2-5)
Sarah Gu (5-2)(1-5)(0-1)
Yasmine Khamis (2-1)(2-5)(5-4)
 
Women's Foil (5-4)
Lauren Scruggs (5-1)(4-5)(5-1)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (5-1)(5-1)(5-1)
Linda He (3-5)(2-5)(1-5)
 
Women's Saber (5-4)
Chloe Williams (3-5)(5-3)(5-4)
Jenna Shoman (5-2)(3-5)(5-1)
Kaitlyn Pak (4-5)(5-0)(2-5)
 
W vs. Penn, 20-7
Women's Epee (6-3)
Yasmine Khamis (5-1)(5-4)(3-5)
Emily Vermeule (5-4)(4-5)(5-3)
Sarah Gu (5-0)(5-1)(0-1)
 
Women's Foil (6-3)
Lauren Scruggs (5-0)(5-0)(5-3)
Jessica Zi Jia Guo (5-4)(5-0)(5-0)
Linda He (3-5)(0-5)(3-5)
 
Women's Saber (8-1)
Chloe Williams (1-5)(5-3)
Madison Duckett (5-2)(5-1)
Zoe Kim (5-2)
Kaitlyn Pak (5-4)
Jenna Shoman (5-3)(5-2)