A team of Northwestern sabreists took home a bronze medal at USA Fencing’s 2026 Junior Olympics at the Kansas City Convention Center this weekend.
Kicking off 2026, sophomore Nisha Hild, freshman Elaine Lu and freshman Sophia Schiminovich won three head-to-head bouts to reach the podium, but the No. 1-seeded group lost 45-43 in the semifinals. To earn the medal, they handily took down Absolute Fencing & Fitness Academy, 45-36.
Individually, Hild and Schiminovich finished 34th and 39th, respectively, after going 6-0 in pool action. Both bowed out in the Round of 64 after securing Round of 128 wins. Lu, meanwhile, had to spar through two tableau contests to reach the same stage after failing to claim a bye with a 3-3 record in pool play, ending 57th.
In the épée category, freshman Angelica Xiong and Natasha Lee finished 39th and 42nd. Both won in the Round of 128 after each secured a 5-1 record in pool play, earning first-round byes.
Freshman Bridgette Ouyang ended 73rd in the women’s foil, losing to Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Grace Feng, who finished eighth.
The Wildcats will return to the dual season at the Tufts Invitational on Sunday.
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