PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The MIT women's fencing team kicked off the 2025-26 season by competing at the Coach Nikki Franke Classic hosted by Temple University on Saturday. Formerly known as the Temple Open, this was the Engineers' first appearance at the event since 1992-93. Sandra Luo tied for third place in foil, marking the program's best finish in any weapon in program history. Zandra Feland led the epee contingent in 30^th place while Victoria Fang was 46^th in sabre.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Epee:

• Feland compiled a 5-3 record in pool play and following a bye in the round of 128, she defeated Thansi Garikipati of Johns Hopkins, 15-10. However, she lost to Elizabeth Zigalo of UNC, 15-11, in the round of 32 to rank 30^th.
• Priscilla Leang finished four spots behind Feland as she compiled a 6-2 ledger following two rounds of pool play. A recipient of a bye in the round of 128, she fell to Mickey Zhang of Johns Hopkins, 15-13.
• Eunice Choi finished in 42^nd place. She posted a 5-3 mark after pool play, earned a bye during the round of 128, and was narrowly edged out by Yuna Tamura of Penn State, 14-13, in the round of 64. 

HOW IT HAPPENED - Foil:

• Luo's tie for third place surpassed MIT's previous best performance which was when Linda Ystueta '88 ranked sixth in foil in 1987-88. Luo won all eight bouts in pool play and after a bye in the round of 64, she defeated Filiz Erdogan of Drew (15-12), Isabella Paulus of BC (15-11), and Cameron Cho of BC (15-13). Her run came to an end in the quarterfinals when she fell to Sophia Shen of Duke, 15-9.
• Jordyn Goldson tied for 48^th place as she posted a 1-7 ledger after two rounds of pool play.

HOW IT HAPPENED - Sabre:

• Fang ranked 46^th as she posted a 3-6 record in pool play and fell to Hava Stone of Duke, 15-5, in the round of 64.
• Cassandra He placed 51^st as she had a 3-7 total following two rounds of pool play and lost to Rayaana Grulich of Temple, 15-4, in the round of 64.

UP NEXT:

• MIT returns to action on Saturday, November 1 when it travels to Smith College for The Big One Invitational.

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