STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford fencing is back in action for the first time in 2026, heading to Northwestern for the Schiller Duals. The two-day competition is the Cardinal's final tune-up before postseason bouts begin on Feb. 22.
The last time Stanford competed was in November, with the men's and women's squads going a combined 10-6 at the Western Invitational. The USFCA Midseason Coaches' Poll has the Cardinal women ranked 11th, with men ranked 12th.
The Card had a dominant showing at last year's Schiller Duals, with the men going 9-1 and the women going 8-2.
TOP COMPETITION » The Schiller Duals will feature a strong slate of opponents, with the Cardinal taking on three top-15 men's teams, including No. 1 Notre Dame. The women will face off with four ranked foes, including three of the top seven.
RETURNING CHAMPION » Arianna Cao took home a National Championship in Women's Foil, the Cardinal's 15th individual champion in program history and first since 2015.
Cao is the Cardinal’s fourth women’s foil champion in program history, and first since Iris Zimmerman in 2001. The last member of the Cardinal women’s team to take home an NCAA Championship was Vivian Kong, winning epee in 2014.
ALL-AMERICANS ARE BACK » The Cardinal saw three fencers earn All-America honors in 2025, led by Cao's First Team Selection. Freshman Renzo Fukuda earned Second Team honors with an 8th-place finish in men's foil, while Crystal Qian picked up an Honorable Mention with and 11th-place finish in Women's Foil.
FRESHMAN DEBUT » Grace Ker was sharp in her Stanford debut, going 7-2 in individual bouts last weekend at the November NAC. The freshman advanced to the round of 32 in the women's saber competition, which started with a field of over 200 competitors.
STUDENT, OLYMPIAN, COACH » Massialas is back on The Farm for his second season as head coach of his alma mater. Massialas boasts one of the most successful fencing careers in Cardinal history, as a two time individual NCAA Champion in the men's foil (2013, 2015), and a three-time Olympic medalist in four trips to the Olympic Games.