Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Paul Beaty/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Fencing Adds Six To Class Of 2028
1/26/2024 3:35:00 PM | Women's Fencing
Class features talent from across the globe
EVANSTON, Ill. (January 26, 2024) – Currently in his eighth season leading the Northwestern fencing program, Head Coach Zach Moss announced the Wildcats' Class of 2028 on Friday. The group of six signees includes talent from the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan.
"From the beginning of the recruitment process, these are fencers who we identified for their competitive success and winning attitude," Moss stated. "They bring a strong sense of drive, commitment, and the tools to make a big impact on our program. Their values align strongly with ours, which will help continue to strengthen our team culture and success. Competitively, this class features significant experience and success at both the national and international levels. I'm excited to see the immediate impact this class will have, both on and off the strip. As a staff, we can't wait for the opportunity to mentor and help these student-athletes continue to grow. We're thrilled to welcome them to Evanston!"
Hailin Chen
Epee / 6'2
Hong Kong. SAR / ESF Sha Tin College
High School/Club Level: Placed 12th at the 2023 World Cadet Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria … Enjoyed a banner 2022, piling up four podium finishes … Topped the podium at Asian Cadet Championships, in addition to contributing to a third-place showing in the team competition … Collected a runner-up finish at the Asian Junior Championships ahead of an impressive third-place effort at the World Cadet Championships.
Chen on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because the University has given me an incredible opportunity to pursue my athletic career in college fencing and support through its high-level education."
Kira Erikson
Sabre / 5'3
Torrance, Calif. / West High School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for the South Bay Fencing Academy under the direction of Coach Matteo Gallo … Bronze medalist at the 2022 Summer Nationals … Took gold at the Division III National Championships in 2021 … Placed second at the 2020 Japan Junior Olympics following a third-place showing in 2018 … Secured gold at the Division I Team National Championships … Competed at the Cadet World Cup in both Romania and France, earning a top-32 finish at the latter event.
Personal: Honor roll … Chose Northwestern over Notre Dame … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Erikson on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I was attracted to the hardworking yet enthusiastic environment. I believe that Northwestern will push me to better myself both academically and on the strip, while providing me with the resources I need to succeed at my passions."
Nisha Hild
Sabre / 5'5
Holliston, Mass. / Holliston High School
High School/Club Level: Three-time First Team All-America selection by USA Fencing … Brought home runner-up finish in Junior Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's November North American Cup (NAC) in 2023 after taking seventh in the event at the April NAC earlier in the year … Captained the squad that took first in the team sabre competition at the November NAC … Came in third at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championships, where she was also part of team that won the Junior Women's Sabre … Collected another first-place team finish in the Cadet Women's Sabre at the 2023 Eislingen Cadet Cup … Landed seventh at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Earned top-16 finishes in both the Junior (3rd) and Division I (16th) sections of the sabre at the 2022 December NAC.
Personal: Honor roll member … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Neuroscience.
Hild on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for the top-tier academics and the strong sense of community I felt when meeting with the team members, coaches, and staff. I believe that I will be well supported in my academic and athletic aspirations at Northwestern."
Brianna Ho
Foil / 5'4
Bernardsville, N.J. / Bernards High School
High School/Club Level: Two-time USA Fencing First Team All-American … Named NJ.com Girls Fencer of the Year in both 2021 and 2023 … Captured New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) individual state title in 2023 after winning three straight county crowns … Part of Bernards High School team that advanced to the semifinals of the NJSIAA Team Tournament … Captured county and district titles in 2023 … Appeared on the club level for V Fencing Club … Placed fifth in Paris Marathon Fleuret Cadet International competition … Finished eighth in the Junior Women's Foil at USA Fencing's December NAC … Also notched two additional top-eight finishes at the May NAC, taking fifth in the Cadet Women's Foil and seventh in the Junior Women's Foil.
Personal: Two-year Class Vice President … Four-time Honor Roll member … 2023 AP Scholar with Distinction … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Ho on Northwestern: "The combination of community, support, and opportunity that Northwestern provides is unmatched. Not only does the fencing team always welcome me with open arms, but they are also extremely talented student-athletes who I am certain will support me in my personal growth. Northwestern is undeniably the best option for me, as it fulfills every one of my needs as a student-athlete."
Natalie Shearer
Sabre / 5'9
Lake Forest, Calif. / Santa Margarita Catholic High School
High School/Club Level: Attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she was teammates with former Wildcats Thea Nguyen and Robyn Song … Coached by Nick Dinu, Ed Korfanty, and Nikolay Kovalev … First Team All-America honoree in 2021 … Has racked up eight national medals … Earned runner-up finish in the Caden Women's Sabre at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Secured a top-16 finish in the Division I Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's October NAC in 2023.
Personal: First Team All-Academic selection … Six-time First Honor Roll recipient … Volunteers at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
Shearer on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the amazing resources the University and fencing program offers. I trust that with all of the support that Northwestern provides, I can perform to best of my ability both physically and academically."
Yukari Takamizawa
Foil / 5'1
Tokyo, Japan / Christian Academy (Japan)
High School/Club Level: Appeared for both the Golden State Fencing Academy with Coach Alex Fortunatov and Coach Takemasa Wada's Nexus Fencing Club … Member of winning foil team at the 2023 Cadet Asian Championships … Battled to a sixth-place finish in the Division I Women's Foil at the 2023 Summer Nationals … Checked in third in the Cadet Division at the 2023 Japan Junior Olympics.
Personal: Four-year honor roll student … National Merit Scholarship recipient … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Takamizawa on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I strongly believe that the University's commitment to foster great student-athletes will help me to excel in both fencing and academics. I am confident that the supportive atmosphere of the team will contribute significantly to my own growth. I'm very excited to join the Wildcats!"
"From the beginning of the recruitment process, these are fencers who we identified for their competitive success and winning attitude," Moss stated. "They bring a strong sense of drive, commitment, and the tools to make a big impact on our program. Their values align strongly with ours, which will help continue to strengthen our team culture and success. Competitively, this class features significant experience and success at both the national and international levels. I'm excited to see the immediate impact this class will have, both on and off the strip. As a staff, we can't wait for the opportunity to mentor and help these student-athletes continue to grow. We're thrilled to welcome them to Evanston!"
Hailin Chen
Epee / 6'2
Hong Kong. SAR / ESF Sha Tin College
High School/Club Level: Placed 12th at the 2023 World Cadet Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria … Enjoyed a banner 2022, piling up four podium finishes … Topped the podium at Asian Cadet Championships, in addition to contributing to a third-place showing in the team competition … Collected a runner-up finish at the Asian Junior Championships ahead of an impressive third-place effort at the World Cadet Championships.
Chen on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because the University has given me an incredible opportunity to pursue my athletic career in college fencing and support through its high-level education."
Kira Erikson
Sabre / 5'3
Torrance, Calif. / West High School
High School/Club Level: Fenced for the South Bay Fencing Academy under the direction of Coach Matteo Gallo … Bronze medalist at the 2022 Summer Nationals … Took gold at the Division III National Championships in 2021 … Placed second at the 2020 Japan Junior Olympics following a third-place showing in 2018 … Secured gold at the Division I Team National Championships … Competed at the Cadet World Cup in both Romania and France, earning a top-32 finish at the latter event.
Personal: Honor roll … Chose Northwestern over Notre Dame … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Erikson on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I was attracted to the hardworking yet enthusiastic environment. I believe that Northwestern will push me to better myself both academically and on the strip, while providing me with the resources I need to succeed at my passions."
Nisha Hild
Sabre / 5'5
Holliston, Mass. / Holliston High School
High School/Club Level: Three-time First Team All-America selection by USA Fencing … Brought home runner-up finish in Junior Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's November North American Cup (NAC) in 2023 after taking seventh in the event at the April NAC earlier in the year … Captained the squad that took first in the team sabre competition at the November NAC … Came in third at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championships, where she was also part of team that won the Junior Women's Sabre … Collected another first-place team finish in the Cadet Women's Sabre at the 2023 Eislingen Cadet Cup … Landed seventh at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Earned top-16 finishes in both the Junior (3rd) and Division I (16th) sections of the sabre at the 2022 December NAC.
Personal: Honor roll member … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Neuroscience.
Hild on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern for the top-tier academics and the strong sense of community I felt when meeting with the team members, coaches, and staff. I believe that I will be well supported in my academic and athletic aspirations at Northwestern."
Brianna Ho
Foil / 5'4
Bernardsville, N.J. / Bernards High School
High School/Club Level: Two-time USA Fencing First Team All-American … Named NJ.com Girls Fencer of the Year in both 2021 and 2023 … Captured New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) individual state title in 2023 after winning three straight county crowns … Part of Bernards High School team that advanced to the semifinals of the NJSIAA Team Tournament … Captured county and district titles in 2023 … Appeared on the club level for V Fencing Club … Placed fifth in Paris Marathon Fleuret Cadet International competition … Finished eighth in the Junior Women's Foil at USA Fencing's December NAC … Also notched two additional top-eight finishes at the May NAC, taking fifth in the Cadet Women's Foil and seventh in the Junior Women's Foil.
Personal: Two-year Class Vice President … Four-time Honor Roll member … 2023 AP Scholar with Distinction … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Ho on Northwestern: "The combination of community, support, and opportunity that Northwestern provides is unmatched. Not only does the fencing team always welcome me with open arms, but they are also extremely talented student-athletes who I am certain will support me in my personal growth. Northwestern is undeniably the best option for me, as it fulfills every one of my needs as a student-athlete."
Natalie Shearer
Sabre / 5'9
Lake Forest, Calif. / Santa Margarita Catholic High School
High School/Club Level: Attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she was teammates with former Wildcats Thea Nguyen and Robyn Song … Coached by Nick Dinu, Ed Korfanty, and Nikolay Kovalev … First Team All-America honoree in 2021 … Has racked up eight national medals … Earned runner-up finish in the Caden Women's Sabre at the 2023 Junior Olympics … Secured a top-16 finish in the Division I Women's Sabre at USA Fencing's October NAC in 2023.
Personal: First Team All-Academic selection … Six-time First Honor Roll recipient … Volunteers at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
Shearer on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the amazing resources the University and fencing program offers. I trust that with all of the support that Northwestern provides, I can perform to best of my ability both physically and academically."
Yukari Takamizawa
Foil / 5'1
Tokyo, Japan / Christian Academy (Japan)
High School/Club Level: Appeared for both the Golden State Fencing Academy with Coach Alex Fortunatov and Coach Takemasa Wada's Nexus Fencing Club … Member of winning foil team at the 2023 Cadet Asian Championships … Battled to a sixth-place finish in the Division I Women's Foil at the 2023 Summer Nationals … Checked in third in the Cadet Division at the 2023 Japan Junior Olympics.
Personal: Four-year honor roll student … National Merit Scholarship recipient … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
Takamizawa on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I strongly believe that the University's commitment to foster great student-athletes will help me to excel in both fencing and academics. I am confident that the supportive atmosphere of the team will contribute significantly to my own growth. I'm very excited to join the Wildcats!"
Players Mentioned
Sabre
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