Charlotte, N.C. - The 2025 Junior Olympics & Division I NAC continued on the second day of competition with three national champions crowned across junior events.
National Champion Richard Li (Star Fencing Academy), got gold on his third try, “Definitely is exciting. I got in the top three. It's my third time getting top three.” Taking in the moment, Li said he was “here for the free [Azza] shoes!”
On the Division I side of the competition, Cody Walter Ji (Nellya Fencers) claimed gold in the Division I Men’s Saber competition. While in an intense gold medal match, he stayed calm and simply kept faith that he would get the next touch, and eventually win gold.
“Well, that in those tough moments, like I feel like it really shows like if you're mentally as a mentally strong athlete, you know, so I just kept on telling myself to focus and, you know, you never know if you're gonna win the touch or not, right? My coach was telling me, and basically it was all about having faith in my action and just go out there executing it, leave it all out there, because I don't know if I'm gonna score it or not, but I just need to go out there and do the best I can.”
Ella Calise (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - Port Chester), the junior women’s foil national champion, claimed her gold medal and not only was it a national title, but it was her first junior gold medal. Calise said, “It feels amazing, and I'm really happy because it's my first gold in a junior event.”
In the junior women’s saber event, Brynnley McKee (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club), earned gold and said it “Feels really, really amazing. I'm really grateful, especially after that tiresome bout like the back and forth were really challenging, but I'm just really grateful, and it's just pure joy.”
Division I Men’s Saber
Gold: Cody Walter Ji (Nellya Fencers)
Silver: Lev Benavram (Nazlymov Fencing Foundation & National Capital Fencers Club)
Bronze: Daryl Homer OLY (Peter Westbrook Foundation)
Bronze: Antonio Heathcock (University of Pennsylvania & Manhattan Fencing Center)
5th: Kamar Skeete (Nellya Fencers & Manhattan Fencing Center)
6th: William Morrill (Scarsdale Fencing Center & Fencers Club Inc.)
7th: Neil Lilov (Lilov Fencing Academy & Pennsylvania State University)
8th: Ethan Kim (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club)
Junior Men’s Foil
National Champion: Richard Li (Star Fencing Academy)
Silver: Julian Goor (Massialas Foundation (M Team))
Bronze: Allen Chen (Bluegrass Fencers' Club)
Bronze: Conrad Lo (Massialas Foundation (M Team))
5th: Matthew Li (AIC Fencing Club)
6th: Bradley Li (Star Fencing Academy)
7th: Castor Kao (Star Fencing Academy & Yale University Fencing)
8th: Jeffrey Zhai (East Coast Fencing Club)
Division I Women’s Epee
Gold: Kai Liu (Shoreline Fencers Club & Medeo Fencing Club)
Silver: Tierna Oxenreider (New York Athletic Club & New York Fencing Academy)
Bronze: Natalia Toby (New York Athletic Club)
Bronze: Anna Van Brummen OLY (Alliance Fencing Academy)
5th: Maya Kozlowski (Woodlands International Fencing Club)
6th: Caroline (Karolina) Nixon (TeamK Fencing & LA International Fencing)
7th: Regina Lee (Swords Fencing Studio)
8th: Amanda Pirkowski (Northwestern University)
Junior Women’s Foil
National Champion: Ella Calise (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - Port Chester)
Silver: Emma Yang (Star Fencing Academy)
Bronze: Jia Chen (V Fencing Club)
Bronze: Mikayla Chusid (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)
5th: Lavender Lee (Top Fencing Club)
6th: Kimberley Jang (Fencers Club Inc.)
7th: Sophie Zhao (University of Notre Dame & Bluegrass Fencers' Club)
8th: Anice Orvananos (Top Fencing Club & Fencers Club Inc.)
Junior Women’s Saber
National Champion: Brynnley McKee (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club)
Silver: Carina Festa (Manhattan Fencing Center)
Bronze: Lola Possick (Advance Fencing and Fitness Academy & University of Notre Dame)
Bronze: Aria Bevacqua (Manhattan Fencing Center)
5th: Charmaine Andres (Southern California Fencing Academy - SOCALFA)
6th: Ibla Vadasz (Dynamo Fencing Center Inc. & Scarsdale Fencing Center)
6th: Catelyn So (Scarsdale Fencing Center & Fencers Club Inc.)
8th: Natalie Shearer (Northwestern University & Laguna Fencing Center)
