Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Six Wildcats Qualify For NCAA Fencing Championships
3/10/2026 3:15:00 PM | Women's Fencing
Northwestern qualifies full allocation for fourth time in program history
EVANSTON, Ill. (March 10, 2026) – For the second time in as many seasons, No. 6 Northwestern fencing has earned six bids to the NCAA Championships, March 19-20, in South Bend, Ind.
The Wildcats will be represented at the University of Notre Dame's Joyce Center by epeeists Anna Damratoski and Natasha Lee, foilists Brianna Ho and Yukari Takamizawa, and sabreists Elaine Lu and Natalie Shearer. This marks the fourth time in program history that Northwestern will send the maximum allocation of six student-athletes to the national meet.
Of women's teams represented in the Midwest Region, only Northwestern and the host Fighting Irish qualified six participants.
Both Takamizawa and Shearer return to the NCAA Championships for a second consecutive season, with Shearer looking to build on an 11th-place finish last season that saw her earn Honorable Mention All-America distinction. Damratoski, Lee, Ho, and Lu will make their respective debuts on the national stage.
Fencers will compete in a round-robin format of five-touch bouts. After round robin, the top-four finishers in each weapon will fence in semifinal 15-touch bouts, with winners fencing to determine first and second places, and non-advancing fencers being awarded a tie for third place.
An institution's finish in the championships will be based on points earned by each individual. A team will be awarded one point for each victory by its student-athletes during round-robin competition.
The Wildcats will be represented at the University of Notre Dame's Joyce Center by epeeists Anna Damratoski and Natasha Lee, foilists Brianna Ho and Yukari Takamizawa, and sabreists Elaine Lu and Natalie Shearer. This marks the fourth time in program history that Northwestern will send the maximum allocation of six student-athletes to the national meet.
The Big Stage ??
— Northwestern Fencing (@NUWFencing) March 10, 2026
Six 'Cats have secured bids to the NCAA Fencing Championships! pic.twitter.com/kzbPYrpmTI
Of women's teams represented in the Midwest Region, only Northwestern and the host Fighting Irish qualified six participants.
Both Takamizawa and Shearer return to the NCAA Championships for a second consecutive season, with Shearer looking to build on an 11th-place finish last season that saw her earn Honorable Mention All-America distinction. Damratoski, Lee, Ho, and Lu will make their respective debuts on the national stage.
Fencers will compete in a round-robin format of five-touch bouts. After round robin, the top-four finishers in each weapon will fence in semifinal 15-touch bouts, with winners fencing to determine first and second places, and non-advancing fencers being awarded a tie for third place.
An institution's finish in the championships will be based on points earned by each individual. A team will be awarded one point for each victory by its student-athletes during round-robin competition.
Players Mentioned
Epée
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's FencingThis is Northwestern Athletics | 2024-25 Recap
Tuesday, August 19
David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program - 2025 Video
Tuesday, August 19
The Foundation: Northwestern Fencing
Wednesday, March 19
Laurie Schiller Full Speech | 2022 Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
Monday, September 19
