Temple University Athletics
Four Named USFCA Awards Finalists
5.4.22 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - Four Owls have been named as USFCA Awards Finalists, as announced by the United State Fencing Coaches Association. Naomi Ross was named a Women's Epee Collegiate Athletes of the Year Finalist while Anna Novoseltseva was named a Women's Team Collegiate Newcomer of the Year Finalist. On the other side of the strip, head coach Dr. Nikki Franke was named a Women's Team Collegiate Coach of the Year Finalist and Tasia Ford was named a Women's Team Collegiate Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist.
Both Ross (epee) and Novoseltseva (foil) represented the Owls at the NCAA Championships last month in their respective weapons, with Ross finishing 19th with eight bout wins and Novoseltseva finishing 21st with six bout wins. Prior to the NCAAs, Ross finished third at the Mid-Atlantic/South Regional to earn a First-Team All-Region honor while Novoseltseva finished seventh to earn a Second-Team All-Region honor. Novoseltseva also earned the Individual Foil Title at the NIWFA Championships.
Franke and Ford helped lead the program to a No. 10 ranking to end the season, staying in the top-10 for all rankings releases throughout the season. The Owls also earned their 26th-straight NIWFA Team Title, sweeping the squad weapons titles for the second straight year and taking two of the three individual weapons titles. The pair also coached six fencers to finish the season in the top-15 in the region in their respective weapons, with two finishing in the top-10.Â
Franke has been at the helm of the program for 50 years, starting the program in 1972, and has a career coaching record of 898 wins. Ford, a Temple fencing alum, joined the staff as a part-time sabre coach during the spring of 2020 before being promoted to a full-time coach for the 2020-21 season.
USFCAÂ member coaches will vote to determine winners, which will be announced the week of May 9.
Both Ross (epee) and Novoseltseva (foil) represented the Owls at the NCAA Championships last month in their respective weapons, with Ross finishing 19th with eight bout wins and Novoseltseva finishing 21st with six bout wins. Prior to the NCAAs, Ross finished third at the Mid-Atlantic/South Regional to earn a First-Team All-Region honor while Novoseltseva finished seventh to earn a Second-Team All-Region honor. Novoseltseva also earned the Individual Foil Title at the NIWFA Championships.
Franke and Ford helped lead the program to a No. 10 ranking to end the season, staying in the top-10 for all rankings releases throughout the season. The Owls also earned their 26th-straight NIWFA Team Title, sweeping the squad weapons titles for the second straight year and taking two of the three individual weapons titles. The pair also coached six fencers to finish the season in the top-15 in the region in their respective weapons, with two finishing in the top-10.Â
Franke has been at the helm of the program for 50 years, starting the program in 1972, and has a career coaching record of 898 wins. Ford, a Temple fencing alum, joined the staff as a part-time sabre coach during the spring of 2020 before being promoted to a full-time coach for the 2020-21 season.
USFCAÂ member coaches will vote to determine winners, which will be announced the week of May 9.
Players Mentioned
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's FencingEp. 34: Head Fencing Coach Jennie Salmon
Friday, January 30
MBB Press Conference vs. Charlotte (Adam Fisher)
Thursday, January 29
Ep. 33: Men's Basketball Senior Guard Jordan Mason
Tuesday, January 27
Temple Men's Basketball 2025-26 All Access | Game 19 & 20 At Rice & UTSA
Monday, January 26
