STANFORD, Calif. – The Cardinal is back for a second competition of the 2026-27 campaign, competing at the Western Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.
RANKINGS CHECK-IN » Stanford was well represented in the USFCA's first poll of the season, with the men's team landing at No. 11 and the women at No. 12.Â
The men's foil squad led all weapon groups with a No. 5 ranking, with women's foil (No. 7) and women's saber (No. 9) also landing in the top 10. The men's saber crew landed at No. 11, and women's epee came in at No. 15.
CARDINAL'S BACK AGAIN » Stanford's women finished 10th at the NCAA championships last season, while the men finished 15th.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICAN » Arianna Cao took home a National Championship in Women's Foil two seasons ago, and returns for her senior year with a decorated resume. The San Jose product has qualified for NCAAs in each of her previous three seasons on The Farm, earning All-America honors twice.
Cao enters the year as the two-time defending ACC Fencer of the Year, including a conference crown last season in women's foil.
INTRODUCING THE FRESHMEN » The Cardinal boasts a seven-person freshman class this season. Luao Yang and Victor Lyu join the men's foil squad, while Jake Lo and Chris Hu will compete with epee and saber, respecitvely. On the women's side, Chloe Tolsma and Victoria Zhang will compete in women's epee. while Catelyn So joins the women's saber squad.
STUDENT, OLYMPIAN, COACH » Massialas is back on The Farm for his third 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.
Through two seasons as head coach, Massialas has guided student-athletes to five All-America selections, three ACC medalists, as well as Cao's NCAA and ACC titles.
FENCING ON THE FARM » The Card will compete on home turf this season for the first time since 2023, hosting the ACC Championships on February 20 and 21 in Maples Pavilion.