Hild Storms To Sabre Title At April NAC

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 15, 2025) – First-year Nisha Hild brought home gold in the Junior Women's Sabre to lead Northwestern fencing over the weekend at USA Fencing's April North American Cup (NAC) in Los Angeles, Calif.
 
Following a 5-1 finish in pool action, Hild entered the tableau as the No. 20 seed.  The Holliston, Mass. native rattled off seven straight victories, three of which came over higher-seeded opponents.  None of those upsets was more thrilling than a razor-thin 15-14 triumph over 10^th-seeded Natalie Tsui in the final that saw Hild secure her spot atop the podium.
 

Gold Standard ??

Congratulations to first-year Nisha Hild on winning the Junior Women's Sabre at @USAFencing's April North American Cup! pic.twitter.com/yEx0AnGHjG

— Northwestern Fencing (@NUWFencing) April 15, 2025

 
Hild also impressed in the Division I Women's Sabre, placing 17^th overall.
 
Fellow first-year Natalie Shearer joined Hild in both sections of the sabre.  Fresh off being named an Honorable Mention All-American at last month's NCAA Fencing Championships, Shearer opened her stay on the West Coast by taking 27^th in the Division I portion of the competition, ahead of wrapping up her weekend with a 19^th-place finish in the junior section.
 
Northwestern was well-represented in the Division I Women's Epee, with two Wildcats finishing inside the top 15.  After receiving an opening-round bye, Second Team All-America honoree Amanda Pirkowski won a pair of matchups in the tableau en route claiming 10^th place, while Anna Damratoski pulled off three straight wins against higher-seeded foes to earn 15^th.
 
Samantha Serban carried the banner for the 'Cats in the Division I Women's Foil, notching four wins in pool action before adding another victory in the tableau on the way to finishing 20^th.
 
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the April NAC follows.
 
Division I Women's Epee
10^th – Amanda Pirkowski
15^th – Anna Damratoski
31^st – Athina Kwon
77^th – Karen Wang
116^th – Ava Wade-Currie
 
Division I Women's Foil
20^th – Samantha Serban
 
Division I Women's Sabre
17^th – Nisha Hild
27^th – Natalie Shearer
57^th – Megumi Oishi
66^th – Adele Bois
113^th – Kira Erikson
 
Junior Women's Sabre
1^st – Nisha Hild
19^th – Natalie Shearer
166^th – Kira Erikson