October NAC: Day 3 Recap

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — William Morrill (Columbia, Scarsdale Fencing Center & Fencers Club) is no stranger to the finals strip. About three months ago at Summer Nationals, he twice fenced on the raised piste for a chance at gold.

But as he fenced for Division I Men’s Saber gold on Sunday at the October North American Cup in Atlantic City, it seemed as if Morrill’s cheering section had grown in size.

That’s because it has. Morrill is now a first-year student-athlete at Columbia University, and the stands were filled with blue-and-white-clad supporters cheering on his every touch.

“It's awesome having them here,” he says. “They've been very welcoming of me. I'm super happy to call Columbia my new family, and it was just great to have them here cheering me.”

Morrill, currently the world’s No. 2-ranked junior in men’s saber, won his first World Cup medal as a senior in May (a bronze in Madrid). With a combination of NACs, NCAA tournaments and FIE events ahead, Morrill knows he’ll need to become as skilled in time management as he is in fencing.

“It’s a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun, too, and I'm really excited to start fencing on the NCAA level,” he says. “I want to see what that has in store for me so I can adjust to the new format. And I'm just really excited to get out there.”

Morrill knows if he can continue to work hard and develop his game, the possibilities are limitless.

“I have a couple goals,” he says. “I want to be Junior World Champion in both teams and individual. I want to be NCAA champion in teams and individual. And I want to make the team for Senior World Championships.” 

Zander Rhodes (Columbia University), Morrill’s Columbia teammate, has big goals for 2024-25 as well. But after a season that included serving as a training partner in Paris for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women’s Foil team, she also knows the importance of rest. 

“Last season was really long and really tough, so I’ll try to give myself a rest,” she says. “Honestly, I want to have fun and just see where it goes.”

After a gap year before the Olympics, Rhodes says reacclimating to the rigorous academic life at Columbia has been a challenge — but a welcome one.

“I'm really happy to be back at school, and I'm excited to compete with my teammates,” she says. “But I think you just trust what your body's telling you and give yourself rest when you need it.”

Luca Ghedini (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club) will be ready for a rest, too, after competing in three different Men’s Foil events in Atlantic City: Division I, Division II and Junior.

But the gold medal in Division II Men’s Foil on Sunday makes all that hard work worth it.

“I practice pretty hard,” he says. “I go to the club a lot, and I’ve come a long way from a little Y-8 fencer.”