USAF Academy Hosts Western Invitational: Tufts Women’s Fencing Shines
USAF ACADEMY, CO (November 22, 2025) – The women’s fencing team from Tufts University showcased exceptional performance on the opening day of the Western Invitational, held at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Competing against several top Division I teams, as well as last year’s leading Division III squad, the Jumbos demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience.
First Encounter: Tufts vs. Denison University
In their first match, Tufts faced off against Denison University—the top Division III team from the previous year. The Jumbos secured a narrow victory with a final score of 15-12. The epee events were particularly strong for Tufts, winning six out of nine matches, thanks to senior Karen Bei’s perfect record of 3-0 and two wins by freshman Emily You. They also triumphed 5-4 in saber, where freshmen Emily Xu and Asher Boynton each registered two wins. In foil, sophomore Saanvi Kapoor contributed with two victories, although Tufts fell just short, losing 5-4.
Match Against Northwestern University
Next, Tufts faced Northwestern University, who concluded last season ranked 10th at the NCAA Championships. The Jumbos lost this match 17-10, even though they claimed a 5-4 win in sabre. Detailed individual results for this matchup were not provided.
Victory Over University of Incarnate Word
In a strong display, Tufts defeated the University of Incarnate Word (UIW), a team ranked 22nd in the 2025 NCAA standings, with an 18-9 scoreline. They achieved remarkable successes in foil and epee, winning both by 7-2 margins. Senior Kapoor excelled in foil with a 3-0 record, while Jess Charalel and Katie Han, both sophomores, contributed two wins each. In epee, Bei notched two victories, while the team benefited from UIW defaulting in three matches. Despite a 5-4 setback in saber, Boyton managed a 2-1 record.
Competition with Columbia University
The Jumbos then took on Columbia, the NCAA runner-up from the previous year. Tufts performed admirably, securing six victories against their formidable opponents. Bei won two matches in epee, while Boynton, Anahat Bawa in saber, and foil fighters Layla Roy and Sophie Guan all contributed wins.
Thrilling Finish Against UC San Diego
In perhaps their most thrilling match of the day, Tufts triumphed over UC San Diego, who ranked 14th in the last national championships, with a score of 15-12. The Jumbos excelled in saber, winning 7-2, which included stellar performances from Boynton (three wins) and Xu and Bawa (two wins each). The epee matches ended in a tight 5-4 victory, highlighted by You’s clean sweep and two victories from Bei. In foil, they faced a tough battle, resulting in a 6-3 loss, with Kapoor securing two wins.
Final Match of the Day: Ohio State
Tufts concluded the day’s competitive actions against Ohio State, the sixth-place team at the 2025 NCAA Championships, in a nail-biting finish resulting in a narrow 14-13 defeat. The Jumbos earned a 6-3 victory in saber with solid contributions from Bawa, Boynton, and Xu, each recording two wins. They also excelled in foil with a 5-4 advantage, including a three-win performance by Roy.
Top Performers
As the day wrapped up, several athletes stood out for their individual achievements. Bei led in epee with a strong 10-4 record, followed closely by Boynton in saber at 10-5 and Kapoor with an 8-6 mark in foil.
Looking ahead, the Jumbos will conclude their participation in the Western Invitational tomorrow, taking on the host Air Force, Stanford, and local rival Brandeis, who stand at 19th, 9th, and 23rd in the NCAA rankings respectively.
–JUMBOS–
