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Takamizawa, Schiminovich Lead ‘Cats To Open Season At October NAC
10/8/2025 8:00:00 AM | Women's Fencing
Both members of duo earn top-16 finishes
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (October 8, 2025) – Yukari Takamizawa and Sophia Schiminovich both placed inside the top 16 in their respective events to lead Northwestern fencing in its first action of the 2025-26 season at USA Fencing's October North American Cup (NAC) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Competing in the Junior Women's Foil, Takamizawa looked to pick up right where she left off following an outstanding first-year campaign in 2024-25. Following a 5-1 run through pool action, the Tokyo, Japan native came away with three head-to-head wins in the tableau, a run highlighted by a 15-12 upset of No. 14 seed Melody Fujiao Tang to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Takamizawa ultimately finished in 11th place.
Making her collegiate debut, Schiminovich impressed in the Division I Women's Sabre. Schiminovich, who picked up four victories in pool play, rattled off three straight wins of her own to make a run to the Round of 16 en route to finishing 13th overall. Schiminovich also saw action in the Junior Women's Sabre, taking 26th, while Natalie Shearer, fresh off a first-year campaign in which she earned Honorable Mention All-America honors, led the 'Cats with a 24th-place finish.
Three-time All-Central Collegiate Fencing Conference (CCFC) honoree Karen Wang paced the attack for the Wildcat epeeists. Out of Houston, Texas, Wang notched a pair of wins in the tableau on her way to finishing 31st in the Division I section of the event.
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the October NAC follows.
Division I Women's Epee
31st – Karen Wang
70th – Anna Damratoski
152nd – Emma Ning
Division I Women's Foil
60th – Bridgette Ouyang
68th – Yukari Takamizawa
172nd – Brianna Ho
Junior Women's Foil
11th – Yukari Takamizawa
131st – Bridgette Ouyang
Division I Women's Sabre
13th – Sophia Schiminovich
28th – Natalie Shearer
45th – Elaine Lu
95th – Nisha Hild
Junior Women's Sabre
24th – Natalie Shearer
26th – Sophia Schiminovich
44th – Nisha Hild
49th – Elaine Lu
UP NEXT
Northwestern returns to action close to home in Libertyville, Ill. when it hosts the Remenyik ROC/RJCC, October 18-19.
Competing in the Junior Women's Foil, Takamizawa looked to pick up right where she left off following an outstanding first-year campaign in 2024-25. Following a 5-1 run through pool action, the Tokyo, Japan native came away with three head-to-head wins in the tableau, a run highlighted by a 15-12 upset of No. 14 seed Melody Fujiao Tang to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Takamizawa ultimately finished in 11th place.
Making her collegiate debut, Schiminovich impressed in the Division I Women's Sabre. Schiminovich, who picked up four victories in pool play, rattled off three straight wins of her own to make a run to the Round of 16 en route to finishing 13th overall. Schiminovich also saw action in the Junior Women's Sabre, taking 26th, while Natalie Shearer, fresh off a first-year campaign in which she earned Honorable Mention All-America honors, led the 'Cats with a 24th-place finish.
Three-time All-Central Collegiate Fencing Conference (CCFC) honoree Karen Wang paced the attack for the Wildcat epeeists. Out of Houston, Texas, Wang notched a pair of wins in the tableau on her way to finishing 31st in the Division I section of the event.
A full listing of Northwestern's results from the October NAC follows.
Division I Women's Epee
31st – Karen Wang
70th – Anna Damratoski
152nd – Emma Ning
Division I Women's Foil
60th – Bridgette Ouyang
68th – Yukari Takamizawa
172nd – Brianna Ho
Junior Women's Foil
11th – Yukari Takamizawa
131st – Bridgette Ouyang
Division I Women's Sabre
13th – Sophia Schiminovich
28th – Natalie Shearer
45th – Elaine Lu
95th – Nisha Hild
Junior Women's Sabre
24th – Natalie Shearer
26th – Sophia Schiminovich
44th – Nisha Hild
49th – Elaine Lu
UP NEXT
Northwestern returns to action close to home in Libertyville, Ill. when it hosts the Remenyik ROC/RJCC, October 18-19.
Players Mentioned
Epée
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
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