SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word fencing program delivered a competitive and steadily improving 2025–26 campaign, marked by strong individual performances, key podium finishes, and continued growth against some of the nation's top collegiate competition.
Season Overview
Incarnate Word entered the season focused on building depth across all three weapons—foil, epee, and sabre—while continuing to develop nationally competitive individuals. Throughout the regular season, the Cardinals faced a demanding schedule, competing in multi-team meets and invitationals against established fencing powers.
The team showed measurable progress across the board, particularly in individual bout win percentages and overall team consistency, positioning themselves as a program on the rise within NCAA fencing.
The season was highlighted by a third-place finish for the men and women at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships.
Championship Performances
The Cardinals' season culminated in strong showings at regional and national qualifying events, where several fencers advanced deep into competition.
At the NCAA Regional Championships, UIW produced multiple top finishes:
Men's Epee: Top-8 finish, with a strong bout record in pool play, advancing to direct elimination rounds
Women's Foil: Top-10 finish, narrowly missing NCAA Championship qualification
Men's Sabre: Multiple competitors finishing in the top half of the field
While the team did not advance a full squad to the NCAA Championships, UIW had individual representation in key weapons, reinforcing its growing national presence.
National Awards
Yassin Khodir (Men's Saber) MPSF First Team | All-Region
Adham Shalaby (Men's Sabre) MPSF Second Team | All-Region
Sylvain Yang (Men's Epee) All-Region
Jenna Baly (Women's Foil) MPSF Second Team
Amelia Dungey (Women's Sabre) MPSF Second Team
Gracyn Githens (Women's Epee) MPSF Second Team | All-Region
MPSF All-Academic Team
The following student-athletes have been nominated for this award by their institutions based on the following criteria:
1. 3.00 or better cumulative grade point average.
2. Student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically.
3. Student-athlete must have completed one full academic year at the institution prior to the season for which the award is received.
4. Student-athlete must have competed in fifty percent or more of the institution's competition in the respective sport.
Women
Charlotte Ahaus, Senior, BBA-International Business
Amelia Dungey, Senior, Healthcare Sciences
Gracyn Githens, Junior, Healthcare Sciences
Liana Vasyakin, Senior, BBA-Business
Men
Yassin Khodir, Junior, CIS
Brendan Barber, Grad, Data Analytics
Nolan Chez, Senior, BBA-Finance
James Dore, Sophomore, English
Emanuel Sanchez, Sophomore, Political Science
Jayden Breton, Junior, Philosophy
Bryce Thayer, Junior, BBA-Sport Management
Sylvain Yang, Junior, BBA-General Business
