STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford fencing team produced three winners and four runner-ups on Saturday in the NCAA Western Regional Championships at the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation.
Sophomore Sean Strong repeated in men's epee, freshman Samuel Kwong won in men's sabre, and fifth-year senior Alexander Massialas prevailed in men's foil.
Additionally, freshman Amanda Han (women's epee), sophomore Tristan Krueger (men's epee), sophomore Carly Weber-Levine (women's sabre) and sophomore Jose Recinto (men's sabre) captured silver medals.
The Cardinal claimed the overall title for the 12th consecutive year in the five-team competition against Air Force Academy, Caltech, the University of Incarnate Word and UC San Diego.
"Very pleased," said co-head coach Lisa Posthumus. "It's not official, but it looks like we're going to qualify eight student-athletes for the NCAA Championships. And we are hoping for wildcard berths for Darren Mei and Valerie Garcia."
Mei, a junior, placed third in men's foil, while Garcia, a sophomore, secured third in women's sabre.
Also earning third place showings for the Cardinal were senior Eliza Klyce (women's foil) and sophomore Jeffrey Dalli (men's sabre).
All conference honors were accorded to Strong, Krueger, Massialas, Kwong, Mei, Recinto, Dalli, Han, Klyce, Weber-Levine and Garcia.
"First, second and third in men's sabre was a great result," Posthumus said. "And our freshmen did well."
Hosting for the first time since 2012, the matches were contested at the Erickson Courts and drew a lively crowd of Stanford supporters. Massialas, a three-time First Team All-American and two-time NCAA men's foil champion and Olympian, headlined the afternoon session, although he lost matches to teammates Mei and Justin Kang.
"They came out guns a blazing and fenced really well," said Massialas, who garnered silver and bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
It marked only the second time he has competed in a home match.
"It was pretty fun and cool," Massialas said. "I didn't have as much support as Darren, but people from my house showed up along with some friends from freshman year who still live in the area."
Next up for Stanford is the NCAA Championships, March 23-26 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Massialas shoots for his third title, previously winning in 2013 and 2015.
"It would mean a lot," he said. "A lot of fencers aren't able to do that. I'm just hoping I can bring home three for Stanford fencing and shed a little more light on the program."
Final Results
Women's Epee
- Yaly Yukelson, UC San Diego
- Amanda Han, Stanford University
- Helen Landwehr, Air Force Academy
11. Adrienne Yang, Stanford
Men's Epee
- Sean Strong, Stanford University
- Tristan Krueger, Stanford University
- Cameron Sullivan, Air Force Academy
9. Cameron Woods, Stanford University
Women's Foil
- Myka Boyd, University of Incarnate Word
- Sophia Holmqvist, UC San Diego
- Eliza Klyce, Stanford University
7. Christie Dawson, Stanford University
8. Anna Widder
9. Cindy Torma
Men's Foil
- Alex Massialas, Stanford University
- David Hadler, UC San Diego
- Darren Mei, Stanford University
5. Justin Kang, Stanford University
7. Andre Cornman, Stanford University
Women's Sabre
- Leanne Singleton-Comfort, Air Force Academy
- Carly Weber-Levin, Stanford University
- Valerie Garcia, Stanford University
- Alexa Rohan, Stanford University
Men's Sabre
- Samuel Kwong, Stanford University
- Jose Recinto, Stanford University
- Jeffrey Dalli, Stanford University
6. Royce Wang, Stanford University