Four Wildcats Qualify For NCAA Fencing Championships

DETROIT, Mich. (March 12, 2024) – Fresh off a strong showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional over the weekend, four members of the No. 6 Northwestern fencing team have secured berths to the NCAA Fencing Championships, it was announced on Tuesday.
 
The pairing of Megumi Oishi (Sabre) and Karen Wang (Epee) will make a second consecutive appearance at the national meet, while Levi Hoogendoorn (Sabre) and Karina Vasile (Foil) are set for their respective NCAA Championships debuts.
 
Northwestern's four NCAA qualifiers were part of a group of eight Wildcats who secured podium finishes at the regional meet this past Saturday inside the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, Mich.
 
Wang posted the top finish by a Wildcat in The Motor City, earning a runner-up finish the women's epee.  The reigning Central Collegiate Fencing Conference (CCFC) Champion in the event raced out of the gate, going a perfect 6-0 through the opening round of the pool play before adding eight victories in the final section.
 
Ava Wade-Currie capped off an impressive first-year season, placing sixth, while Hanna Lipthay (10^th) and Anna Damratoski (14^th) also landed inside the top 15.
 
Competing in the foil, Vasile picked up 10 victories to finish seventh overall.  She was joined on the podium by Juliana Hung, who matched her first-year counterpart with 10 wins of her own to take sixth.  Rowan Park (9^th) and Allison Lee (12^th) also saw action in the event for the 'Cats.
 
In the sabre, Hoogendoorn and Oishi led a dominant showing in which Northwestern claimed four podium spots.  Hoogendoorn caught fire in the final stage of pool action, registering a team-best nine victories to claim third place.  Oishi added seven wins to finish fourth. 
 
Alex Chen wrapped up a terrific opening campaign with the 'Cats, checking in sixth, while Sky Miller closed out a storied Northwestern career with a seventh-place finish.
 
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the NCAA Midwest Regional follows.
 
NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Women's Epee
2^nd – Karen Wang
6^th – Ava Wade-Currie
10^th – Hanna Lipthay
14^th – Anna Damratoski
 
Women's Foil
6^th – Juliana Hung
7^th – Karina Vasile
9^th – Rowan Park
12^th – Allison Lee
 
Women's Sabre
3^rd – Levi Hoogendoorn
4^th – Megumi Oishi
6^th – Alex Chen
7^th – Sky Miller
 
UP NEXT
The 2024 NCAA Championships will be hosted by the Ohio State University, March 21-24, in Columbus, Ohio.  Action on the women's side is slated for March 21-22 inside French Field House.