EVANSTON, Ill. (March 18, 2026) – Six members of the No. 6 Northwestern University fencing team will represent the Wildcats at the NCAA Championships this week in South Bend, Ind.
For the second time in as many seasons, Northwestern will send the maximum allotment to the national meet. That group includes returning NCAA qualifiers Natalie Shearer (sabre) and Yukari Takamizawa (foil), the former of which earned Honorable Mention All-America honors last season.
Anna Damratoski (epee), Natasha Lee (epee), Brianna Ho (foil), and Elaine Lu (sabre) are set to make the first NCAA Championships appearances of their careers.
Northwestern is one of just three women's teams to qualify six student-athletes, joining No. 1 Columbia and event host No. 2 Notre Dame.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The 2026 edition of the NCAA Championships will feature the crowning of a standalone women's team national champion. Previously, a combined national title was awarded using both men's and women's results.
Action at the University of Notre Dame's Joyce Center will get underway at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday morning with opening round bouts in the epee, followed by the start of the foil and sabre. After the completion of the meet's round-robin format on Friday morning, semifinal and championship bouts will take center stage at 12:30 p.m. CT. Links to watch and follow live results can be accessed above.
A full meet schedule for the NCAA Championships follows.
MEET SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 19
8 a.m. CT – Women's Epee (Rounds 1-3)
10 a.m. CT – Women's Foil (Rounds 1-3)
12:30 p.m. CT – Women's Sabre (Rounds 1-3)
Friday, March 20
8 a.m. CT – Women's Epee (Rounds 4-5)
8 a.m. CT – Women's Foil (Rounds 4-5)
8 a.m. CT – Women's Sabre (Rounds 4-5)
12:30 p.m. CT – Women's Semifinals and Championships
For the second time in as many seasons, Northwestern will send the maximum allotment to the national meet. That group includes returning NCAA qualifiers Natalie Shearer (sabre) and Yukari Takamizawa (foil), the former of which earned Honorable Mention All-America honors last season.
Anna Damratoski (epee), Natasha Lee (epee), Brianna Ho (foil), and Elaine Lu (sabre) are set to make the first NCAA Championships appearances of their careers.
Northwestern is one of just three women's teams to qualify six student-athletes, joining No. 1 Columbia and event host No. 2 Notre Dame.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The 2026 edition of the NCAA Championships will feature the crowning of a standalone women's team national champion. Previously, a combined national title was awarded using both men's and women's results.
Action at the University of Notre Dame's Joyce Center will get underway at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday morning with opening round bouts in the epee, followed by the start of the foil and sabre. After the completion of the meet's round-robin format on Friday morning, semifinal and championship bouts will take center stage at 12:30 p.m. CT. Links to watch and follow live results can be accessed above.
A full meet schedule for the NCAA Championships follows.
MEET SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 19
8 a.m. CT – Women's Epee (Rounds 1-3)
10 a.m. CT – Women's Foil (Rounds 1-3)
12:30 p.m. CT – Women's Sabre (Rounds 1-3)
Friday, March 20
8 a.m. CT – Women's Epee (Rounds 4-5)
8 a.m. CT – Women's Foil (Rounds 4-5)
8 a.m. CT – Women's Sabre (Rounds 4-5)
12:30 p.m. CT – Women's Semifinals and Championships