Photo by: Sarah Boeke/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Fencing Announces Class Of 2029
4/9/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Fencing
‘Cats to welcome five student-athletes in the fall
EVANSTON, Ill. (April 9, 2025) – The Northwestern University fencing program is set to add five newcomers in the fall, following the announcement of the Wildcats' Class of 2029 by head coach Zach Moss on Wednesday. Natasha Lee (Las Vegas, Nev./Laurel Springs School), Elaine Lu (Wellesley, Mass./Dana Hall School), Bridgette Ouyang (Boston, Mass./Boston Latin School), Sophia Schiminovich (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy), and Angelica Xiong (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) will join the 'Cats at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
"We are excited to welcome Natasha, Angelica, Bridgette, Elaine, and Sophia to our Northwestern Fencing family," Moss said. "Throughout the recruiting process, their passion for the sport, determination to get better, and desire to be part of a strong, team-focused environment made it clear that they were ideal fits for our program. This group is fierce, driven, competitive, and hard-working. We cannot wait to see the impact they'll make on our program in the coming years."
Natasha Lee
Epee / 5'10
Las Vegas, Nev. / Laurel Springs School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for the Las Vegas Fencing Academy, under the direction of coach Aliya Zaydullina … Has competed internationally on the cadet, junior, and senior levels for Team USA … First Team All-America selection by USA Fencing … Placed third in the team competition at the Cairo Junior World Cup … Finished inside the top 16 in the Division I Women's Epee at USA Fencing's October North American Cup (NAC) … Earned another top-16 finish at the October NAC in the Junior Women's Epee … Posted top-16 showings in both the Division I and Junior sections of Summer Nationals in 2024 … Came away with medals in the junior and cadet competitions at the 2023 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC).
Lee on Northwestern: "With Northwestern's resources, community, and the fencing program's commitment to excellence, the University provides an environment where I believe I can achieve both my academic and athletic potential. I am extremely excited to join the Wildcats, and a supportive group of coaches and teammates!"
Elaine Lu
Sabre / 5'7
Wellesley, Mass. / Dana Hall School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for Dana Hall School, where she was team captain during the 2023-24 season and won an Eastern Independent League (EIL) team title in 2022-23 … Also competed for the Boston Fencing Club with coaches Matthew Zich and David Sach … Two-time USA Fencing First Team All-American … Placed seventh in the Junior Women's Sabre at 2024 Summer Nationals … Anchored sabre squad to team championships at Eislingen Cadet World Cup in 2024 and Bucharest Cadet World Cup in 2023 … Placed second in the Junior Women's Sabre at 2023 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC) … Placed inside the top 16 in the Division I Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's January North American Cup (NAC) in 2023.
Lu on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for its rigorous academic environment, strong sense of community, and unique opportunities the University provides. I'm very excited to be part of a supportive and determined team that I can learn from as I pursue my athletic and academic passions."
Bridgette Ouyang
Foil / 5'5
Boston, Mass. / Boston Latin School
High School/Club Level: Has amassed 76 victories during her time at the Boston Latin School … 2022 USA Fencing All-American … Three-time Team MVP … Member of nine state championship squads … Also fenced at Star Fencing Academy with coaches Shuang Meng, Kai Zhao, and Tamer Tahoun … Placed 16th in the Division I Women's Foil at the 2025 Junior Olympics … Claimed 17th in Junior Women's Foil at USA Fencing's October North American Cup (NAC) in 2024 … Took bronze in the Division I Women's Foil at 2024 Summer Nationals … Placed 11th in Cadet Women's Foil at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Finished sixth in Cadet Women's Foil at 2022 April NAC … Claimed a fifth-place finish in Cadet Women's Foil at 2021 Euro Fencing Cadet Circuit event in Budapest, Hungary.
Ouyang on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for its perfect mix of top academics and competitive athletics. It's a place where I can push myself, grow, and be part of a supportive community."
Sophia Schiminovich
Sabre / 5'5
Portland, Ore. / St. Mary's Academy
High School/Club Level: Competed with the Oregon Fencing Alliance with coach Adam Skarbonkiewicz … National Champion … USA Fencing All-American … Placed 10th in the Junior Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's 2025 Junior Olympics … Came away with a pair of top-15 finishes at 2024 Summer Nationals, finishing 12th in the Junior Women's Sabre and 15th in the Division I Women's Sabre … Finished 11th in Cadet Women's Sabre at the November North American Cup (NAC) … Claimed bronze in the same event at Summer Nationals in 2023.
Schiminovich on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because the fencing team has such a strong sense of community and excellence, and it felt like the perfect environment to grow as an athlete. On top of that, the amazing academic opportunities and support for student-athletes made it clear that Northwestern is a place where I can truly thrive, both on and off the strip."
Angelica Xiong
Epee / 5'1
Woodbury, Minn. / East Ridge High School
High School/Club Level: Has racked up 398 wins during her time with Twin Cities Fencing Club and coach Scott Rostal … 2023 All-America pick by USA Fencing … Four-time Minnesota State Champion … Finished 11th in the Division I Women's Epee at January North American Cup (NAC) … Took 13th in Junior Women's Epee at March 2024 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC) event in Washington, D.C. … 2023-24 Silver Regional Points winner.
Xiong on Northwestern: "Northwestern provided me with a welcoming community that was unmatched. With its world-class athletic and academic facilities, I can pursue my passions without boundaries. I know that choosing Northwestern will allow me to push myself and reach my full potential."
"We are excited to welcome Natasha, Angelica, Bridgette, Elaine, and Sophia to our Northwestern Fencing family," Moss said. "Throughout the recruiting process, their passion for the sport, determination to get better, and desire to be part of a strong, team-focused environment made it clear that they were ideal fits for our program. This group is fierce, driven, competitive, and hard-working. We cannot wait to see the impact they'll make on our program in the coming years."
Natasha Lee
Epee / 5'10
Las Vegas, Nev. / Laurel Springs School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for the Las Vegas Fencing Academy, under the direction of coach Aliya Zaydullina … Has competed internationally on the cadet, junior, and senior levels for Team USA … First Team All-America selection by USA Fencing … Placed third in the team competition at the Cairo Junior World Cup … Finished inside the top 16 in the Division I Women's Epee at USA Fencing's October North American Cup (NAC) … Earned another top-16 finish at the October NAC in the Junior Women's Epee … Posted top-16 showings in both the Division I and Junior sections of Summer Nationals in 2024 … Came away with medals in the junior and cadet competitions at the 2023 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC).
Lee on Northwestern: "With Northwestern's resources, community, and the fencing program's commitment to excellence, the University provides an environment where I believe I can achieve both my academic and athletic potential. I am extremely excited to join the Wildcats, and a supportive group of coaches and teammates!"
Elaine Lu
Sabre / 5'7
Wellesley, Mass. / Dana Hall School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for Dana Hall School, where she was team captain during the 2023-24 season and won an Eastern Independent League (EIL) team title in 2022-23 … Also competed for the Boston Fencing Club with coaches Matthew Zich and David Sach … Two-time USA Fencing First Team All-American … Placed seventh in the Junior Women's Sabre at 2024 Summer Nationals … Anchored sabre squad to team championships at Eislingen Cadet World Cup in 2024 and Bucharest Cadet World Cup in 2023 … Placed second in the Junior Women's Sabre at 2023 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC) … Placed inside the top 16 in the Division I Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's January North American Cup (NAC) in 2023.
Lu on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for its rigorous academic environment, strong sense of community, and unique opportunities the University provides. I'm very excited to be part of a supportive and determined team that I can learn from as I pursue my athletic and academic passions."
Bridgette Ouyang
Foil / 5'5
Boston, Mass. / Boston Latin School
High School/Club Level: Has amassed 76 victories during her time at the Boston Latin School … 2022 USA Fencing All-American … Three-time Team MVP … Member of nine state championship squads … Also fenced at Star Fencing Academy with coaches Shuang Meng, Kai Zhao, and Tamer Tahoun … Placed 16th in the Division I Women's Foil at the 2025 Junior Olympics … Claimed 17th in Junior Women's Foil at USA Fencing's October North American Cup (NAC) in 2024 … Took bronze in the Division I Women's Foil at 2024 Summer Nationals … Placed 11th in Cadet Women's Foil at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Finished sixth in Cadet Women's Foil at 2022 April NAC … Claimed a fifth-place finish in Cadet Women's Foil at 2021 Euro Fencing Cadet Circuit event in Budapest, Hungary.
Ouyang on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for its perfect mix of top academics and competitive athletics. It's a place where I can push myself, grow, and be part of a supportive community."
Sophia Schiminovich
Sabre / 5'5
Portland, Ore. / St. Mary's Academy
High School/Club Level: Competed with the Oregon Fencing Alliance with coach Adam Skarbonkiewicz … National Champion … USA Fencing All-American … Placed 10th in the Junior Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's 2025 Junior Olympics … Came away with a pair of top-15 finishes at 2024 Summer Nationals, finishing 12th in the Junior Women's Sabre and 15th in the Division I Women's Sabre … Finished 11th in Cadet Women's Sabre at the November North American Cup (NAC) … Claimed bronze in the same event at Summer Nationals in 2023.
Schiminovich on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because the fencing team has such a strong sense of community and excellence, and it felt like the perfect environment to grow as an athlete. On top of that, the amazing academic opportunities and support for student-athletes made it clear that Northwestern is a place where I can truly thrive, both on and off the strip."
Angelica Xiong
Epee / 5'1
Woodbury, Minn. / East Ridge High School
High School/Club Level: Has racked up 398 wins during her time with Twin Cities Fencing Club and coach Scott Rostal … 2023 All-America pick by USA Fencing … Four-time Minnesota State Champion … Finished 11th in the Division I Women's Epee at January North American Cup (NAC) … Took 13th in Junior Women's Epee at March 2024 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC) event in Washington, D.C. … 2023-24 Silver Regional Points winner.
Xiong on Northwestern: "Northwestern provided me with a welcoming community that was unmatched. With its world-class athletic and academic facilities, I can pursue my passions without boundaries. I know that choosing Northwestern will allow me to push myself and reach my full potential."
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