How to Qualify for the 2025 USA Fencing Division I National Championships

Updated: This post has been updated to reflect the requirements for the 2025 Division I National Championships in Los Angeles.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Their names are etched in fencing lore — so iconic that many fans know them by last name only: Zagunis. Westbrook. Hurley (both Courtney and Kelley). Stull. Prescod. Itkin. 

These fencing legends have one thing in common: their path to glory started at a Division I National Championship — the highest domestic medal available to members of USA Fencing. Many Division I National Champions have gone on to compete on Senior World Teams, win Senior World Championship Medals and even fence at the Olympic Games.

And here’s the inspiring part: Each April, any USA Fencing member who represents the United States can compete in the Division I National Championship — as long as they qualify. 

So how does a fencer qualify for this year’s edition? With the 2025 Division I National Championships & April North American Cup approaching fast, let’s review. 

And for those who qualify, we’ll see you April 11-14 in Los Angeles!

Here’s what the Athlete Handbook says:

Division I National Championships: The Div I National Championships, held in conjunction with the April NAC, are championships for fencers on the National Rolling Point Standings for Seniors, Juniors and the top Cadets. Competitors must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents. 

Fencers qualify for these Championships via the National Rolling Point Standings, top placements from the last Div IA and Div II National Championships and via modern pentathlon.

Athletes that have represented another country in the last three years at FIE level competitions (Veteran/ Senior/Junior and those athletes that represented another country in the Cadet World Championships) are not eligible to compete in a National Championship, unless the athlete has been officially approved by the FIE to represent the USA.

This event, along with other designated competitions, is part of the selection criteria for the Senior World Championship or Olympic Team.

Here’s what the Athlete Handbook (section 2.12.5) says:

Eligibility (age, classification, qualification path)

Fencers must be at least 13 years old on Jan. 1 in the year of the competition (see Table 2.5.1 for exceptions). Fencers must have a classification of “A”, “B”, or “C” at the entry deadline and be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident.

Now that we know who is eligible to qualify lets review how to qualify for the Division 1 Championships.

This is from the Athlete Handbook (section 2.12.5):

Fencers must meet eligibility requirements AND at least one of the following requirements:

• Be on the current Senior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline

• Be on the current Junior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline 

• Be on the current Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline

• Have placed in the top 8 in the 2023-24 season’s Division IA National Championships (held at the 2024 Summer Nationals in Columbus)

• Have placed in the top 4 in the 2023-24 season’s Division II National Championships (held at the 2024 Summer Nationals in Columbus)

• Be one of the 24 individual competitors who fences at the 2025 NCAA National Championships (held March 2025). Please note that if you qualify through this route you will need to email us at nationalevents@usafencing.org as we do not have a way of tracking NCAA results.

• For epee only: the top 3 (on Modern Pentathlon Point Standings) USA Fencing Modern Pentathlon fencers will be eligible to compete in the Division I epee events without qualifying by any other means. USA Modern Pentathlon fencers MUST be USA Fencing members.

To be on the National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) for Senior, Junior or Cadet, a fencer must have earned points at one or more of the following tournaments: 

• 2024 Division I Championship/April NAC

• 2024 July Challenge

• 2024 October NAC

• 2024 November NAC

• 2024 December SJCC

• 2025 January NAC

• 2025 Junior Olympics

Please note that the qualification for Division 1 Championships is before the March NAC so you cannot use Cadet points earned in that event to qualify for 2025. Instead those points to qualify for the 2026 Division 1 National Championships.

Fencers who are unable to qualify for an event at Summer Nationals and did not compete in their Divisional Qualifiers can submit a petition for entry. The petition deadline is May 17 and requires an additional $100 nonrefundable fee. If a fencer’s petition is denied their event fee will be returned to them in full. The petition form can be found on the Division 1 National Championships Information page or at this link.