Owls Strike Big at NIWFA Championships

MADISON, NJ – The No. 14 Temple fencing team opened postseason competition in commanding fashion, capturing its 30th consecutive NIWFA Championship with a dominant performance at Drew University. The Owls turned in an all-around effort to secure the team title, led by senior foilist Natalie Adams-Kim, who claimed her first career individual NIWFA foil championship. In total, seven Owls earned top-10 finishes across the three weapon groups.

MEET HIGHLIGHTS

Temple's foil squad earned the squad title for the first time in seven seasons, while the epee squad continued its run of excellence, capturing its seventh championship in the last eight years. The sabre squad finished as runner-up, narrowly missing what would have been a seventh straight squad title.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Natalie Adams-Kim delivered a standout performance in the foil competition, dominating the direct elimination rounds to win her first NIWFA title. Adams-Kim posted an impressive 45-11 touch differential, highlighted by a 15-6 semifinal victory over NJIT's Stella Frias before clinching gold in the final.

In epee, Grace Smith, Lauren Johnson, and Anne-Mai Melles all reached the round of eight and secured medal finishes, placing sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.

Freshman Keely Carter led the sabre squad with a strong runner-up showing, notching decisive 15-4 victories over Ashlyn Leunge (Stevens) and Asher Boynton (Tufts) before advancing to the final. Fellow freshman Reese Birnstill joined her in the semifinals, defeating FDU's Carmen Bolt-Turner and Rutgers' Dina Dank en route to a third-place finish.

Alexandra Papapetropoulou added another top-10 finish for Temple, taking ninth place in foil.

UP NEXT

The Owls will now shift focus to the NCAA Regional, hosted by Temple University at Haverford College on March 7.