Johns Hopkins University Athletics women’s fencing opened its season October 24, 2026, with Nicole Yu tying for third at the Coach Nikki Franke Classic in Philadelphia. Yu went 10-0 in pool play, advanced to the semifinals and finished the day with a 13-1 record.
Yu tied for third in the epee for the second consecutive year and was the only Division III fencer to finish among the top 14 in the weapon. Eleanor Li and Ky McSweeney also placed seventh in the foil and sabre, respectively.
Nicole Yu Leads Johns Hopkins in Epee
Yu advanced to the semifinals after her perfect pool-play performance and finished with a 13-1 record. Her third-place result matched her finish from the previous year’s Coach Nikki Franke Classic.
Thansi Garikipati placed 18th among 62 fencers in the epee. She finished the competition with a 7-3 record.
Eleanor Li Places Seventh in Foil
Li led four Johns Hopkins fencers in the foil with a seventh-place finish and an 11-1 record. She went 9-0 in pool play, advanced to the quarterfinals and was the only Division III fencer among the top 14.
Yi Ling Sha placed 15th in the foil with a 7-4 record. Ada Yao finished 17th with an 8-3 record, while Jasmine Wang placed 24th with a 6-6 record.
Ky McSweeney Finishes Seventh in Sabre
McSweeney led four Johns Hopkins sabrists with a seventh-place finish and a 9-5 record. McSweeney advanced to the quarterfinals and was the only Division III fencer to place among the top 13 in the sabre.
The seventh-place finish marked the sixth time in the last eight years that a Blue Jay placed in the top seven in the sabre. Angelina Tse placed 15th with a 10-3 record, Annie Xiong finished 21st with a 9-2 record, and Adele Dai placed 28th with a 7-5 record.
Johns Hopkins Women’s Fencing Schedule
Johns Hopkins returns to action at the Drew Invitational on November 7. The meet will be the team’s next competition after the Coach Nikki Franke Classic.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Johns Hopkins opened the season with three top-seven finishes across the epee, foil and sabre. Yu’s 13-1 record led the way, while Li and McSweeney each reached the quarterfinals and finished seventh in their weapons.
Source: Original report
