INDIANAPOLIS – Fifth-year senior Alexander Massialas' bid to become only the second men's fencer in program history to claim three NCAA individual titles came up short Friday at the National Collegiate Championships at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
The FIE world No. 1-ranked foilist and two-time Olympian finished second in preliminary bouts to earn one of four semifinal spots. However, he lost a hard-fought, tightly-contested 15-13 bout to third-place qualifier Andras Nemeth of St. John's.
Nemeth went on to win the championship, beating top-seed Nolen Scruggs of Columbia, 15-9. Massialas tied for third with Maximilian Chastenet of Ohio State, winning 16 of 23 bouts.
Massialas previously captured NCAA crowns in 2013 and 2015, and took third in 2014.
In 1990, 1992 and 1993, Nick Bravin won three foil NCAA foil championships, the only men's or women's fencer in any weapon at Stanford to accomplish the feat. Felix Reichling captured two foil titles in 1999 and 2000.
It marked the end of a distinguished career for Massialas, a San Francisco native. A four-time first team All-American, he secured a silver medal in foil at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first USA medalist in the sport since 1984. Massialas also garnered a bronze in team foil.
"He is the most decorated fencer in school history," said Stanford co-head coach Lisa Posthumus. "Having Alex on the team has been inspiring for his teammates as well as his coaching staff."
The Cardinal also received good performances from five other fencers. In epee, sophomore Sean Strong won 11 of 23 bouts to place 15th, while sophomore Tristan Krueger won nine of 23 bouts and finished 21st. Cooper Schumacher of Ohio State captured the gold medal.
In sabre, freshman Samuel Kwong won seven of 23 bouts to take 18th, and sophomore Jeffrey Dalli won six of 23 bouts to place 23rd. Eli Derschwitz won the title.
In foil, junior Darren Mei won one of 23 bouts and finished 24th.
Notre Dame and Ohio State share the team with 86 points after two days of competition. Stanford is ninth with 50.
On Saturday, the women's competition begins at 9 a.m. ET with rounds 1-3 in foil, followed at 11 a.m. in epee, and 1:30 p.m. in sabre.
Stanford will be represented by senior Eliza Klyce in foil, freshman Amanda Han in epee and sophomore Carly Weber-Levine in sabre.
Live results can be found on GoStanford.com.