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Photo by: Camille Simmons/USA Fencing
Hild Storms To Sabre Title At April NAC
4/15/2025 10:23:00 AM | Women's Fencing
First-year tops podium in junior section of weapon
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 15, 2025) – First-year Nisha Hild brought home gold in the Junior Women's Sabre to lead Northwestern fencing over the weekend at USA Fencing's April North American Cup (NAC) in Los Angeles, Calif.
Following a 5-1 finish in pool action, Hild entered the tableau as the No. 20 seed. The Holliston, Mass. native rattled off seven straight victories, three of which came over higher-seeded opponents. None of those upsets was more thrilling than a razor-thin 15-14 triumph over 10th-seeded Natalie Tsui in the final that saw Hild secure her spot atop the podium.
Hild also impressed in the Division I Women's Sabre, placing 17th overall.
Fellow first-year Natalie Shearer joined Hild in both sections of the sabre. Fresh off being named an Honorable Mention All-American at last month's NCAA Fencing Championships, Shearer opened her stay on the West Coast by taking 27th in the Division I portion of the competition, ahead of wrapping up her weekend with a 19th-place finish in the junior section.
Northwestern was well-represented in the Division I Women's Epee, with two Wildcats finishing inside the top 15. After receiving an opening-round bye, Second Team All-America honoree Amanda Pirkowski won a pair of matchups in the tableau en route claiming 10th place, while Anna Damratoski pulled off three straight wins against higher-seeded foes to earn 15th.
Samantha Serban carried the banner for the 'Cats in the Division I Women's Foil, notching four wins in pool action before adding another victory in the tableau on the way to finishing 20th.
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the April NAC follows.
Division I Women's Epee
10th – Amanda Pirkowski
15th – Anna Damratoski
31st – Athina Kwon
77th – Karen Wang
116th – Ava Wade-Currie
Division I Women's Foil
20th – Samantha Serban
Division I Women's Sabre
17th – Nisha Hild
27th – Natalie Shearer
57th – Megumi Oishi
66th – Adele Bois
113th – Kira Erikson
Junior Women's Sabre
1st – Nisha Hild
19th – Natalie Shearer
166th – Kira Erikson
Following a 5-1 finish in pool action, Hild entered the tableau as the No. 20 seed. The Holliston, Mass. native rattled off seven straight victories, three of which came over higher-seeded opponents. None of those upsets was more thrilling than a razor-thin 15-14 triumph over 10th-seeded Natalie Tsui in the final that saw Hild secure her spot atop the podium.
Gold Standard ??
— Northwestern Fencing (@NUWFencing) April 15, 2025
Congratulations to first-year Nisha Hild on winning the Junior Women's Sabre at @USAFencing's April North American Cup! pic.twitter.com/yEx0AnGHjG
Hild also impressed in the Division I Women's Sabre, placing 17th overall.
Fellow first-year Natalie Shearer joined Hild in both sections of the sabre. Fresh off being named an Honorable Mention All-American at last month's NCAA Fencing Championships, Shearer opened her stay on the West Coast by taking 27th in the Division I portion of the competition, ahead of wrapping up her weekend with a 19th-place finish in the junior section.
Northwestern was well-represented in the Division I Women's Epee, with two Wildcats finishing inside the top 15. After receiving an opening-round bye, Second Team All-America honoree Amanda Pirkowski won a pair of matchups in the tableau en route claiming 10th place, while Anna Damratoski pulled off three straight wins against higher-seeded foes to earn 15th.
Samantha Serban carried the banner for the 'Cats in the Division I Women's Foil, notching four wins in pool action before adding another victory in the tableau on the way to finishing 20th.
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the April NAC follows.
Division I Women's Epee
10th – Amanda Pirkowski
15th – Anna Damratoski
31st – Athina Kwon
77th – Karen Wang
116th – Ava Wade-Currie
Division I Women's Foil
20th – Samantha Serban
Division I Women's Sabre
17th – Nisha Hild
27th – Natalie Shearer
57th – Megumi Oishi
66th – Adele Bois
113th – Kira Erikson
Junior Women's Sabre
1st – Nisha Hild
19th – Natalie Shearer
166th – Kira Erikson
Players Mentioned
Sabre
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Epee
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Epee
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