Skip to content
Summer Nationals 2025

2025 Summer Nationals, Day 9 Recap: Fun, Friends and the Frenzy of the Finals Strip

Share:

by Bryan Wendell & Nicole Kirk


MILWAUKEE, Wis. — After a fencer spends countless hours at their club training for Summer Nationals, the actual event can feel a little stressful.


That fact made the final words of advice from Lauren Ong’s (International Fencing Club) coach even more impactful.


“I think a lot of coaches might say this, but he said to have fun,” she says. “I think it's really true. Have fun. Breathe. Enjoy the moment. Nationals only come once a year, so really take advantage of the great opportunity we have.”


Ong took advantage all right, earning a national championship in Division III Women’s Saber — one of eight gold medals awarded on the ninth day of the 2025 Summer Nationals.


Ong says she was able to have fun, even during the day’s most stressful moment: her walk up to the finals strip to fence for gold.


“I think the nerves come and go, but there are moments where you do feel clear minded, and you have fun,” she says. “And that's what I love about fencing.”


Hanson Chen (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy) loves fencing, too, especially when he wins another Y-12 Men’s Foil trophy — this time for a national championship. (He also won gold in Y-12 Men’s Foil and Y-14 Men’s Foil at the March NAC in Cleveland.)


On Sunday, Chen had to overcome cramping in his leg to stay on his feet and continue his march toward gold.


“There's one way to think about them,” he says of cramps, “but then the other way, which is the better way, is to just completely ignore them and just focus on your fencing.”


By the time he got to the finals strip, Chen — who didn’t allow double-digit touches to any opponent on Sunday — was cruising and relishing in the moment.


“You know, it's thrilling,” he says. “You go onto the finals strip with tons of people watching and you ignore the pressure. It’s awesome.”


Lucas Lee (Yang Fencing Club) heard some support during his time on the finals strip, too. There was a huge crowd from Yang Fencing Club cheering him on. 


“It feels good, because I know that my friends are supporting me,” he says. “And even if I lose, they're still going to be happy and they're still going to keep motivating me to get a better result.”


Lee says he plans to give his trophy to one of his coaches — a reminder that fencers don’t reach the medal stand alone.


“I want to thank my coaches,” Lee says. “And I want to shout out my family, because they made this happen by paying for my expenses and paying for this tournament so I can come here and fence.”

Day 9 Results — Top 8

Y-10 Women’s Epee

Gold and National Champion: Cynthia Kou (Yang Fencing Club)

Silver: Joanna Sun (Yang Fencing Club)

Bronze: Audrey Zhang (Wanglei International Fencing Club)

Bronze: Anna Li (Academy of Fencing Masters)

5th: Arianna Choi (Space Coast Olympic Fencing)

6th: Andrea Xie (Arena Fencing Academy LLC)

7th: Mila Siu (Elite Fencers Club)

8th: Anastasia Gofman (North Shore Fencers Club)

Y-10 Women’s Foil

Gold and National Champion: Sevilla Xu (Star Fencing Academy)

Silver: Olivia Yang (Bluegrass Fencers' Club)

Bronze: Jolene Chan (Mid-Island Fencing Academy & Fencers Club Inc.)

Bronze: Lucy Luo (Star Fencing Academy)

5th: Morgan Fraser (Bluegrass Fencers' Club)

5th: Alivia Zhu (5T Fencers Club)

7th: Yuna Kim (Renaissance Fencing Club)

8th: Annalyn Zheng (5T Fencers Club)

Y-10 Women’s Saber

Gold and National Champion: Levana Wei (Globus Fencing Academy)

Silver: Tina Fan (LA Fencing Academy of Pomona)

Bronze: Maxine Shi (LA Fencing Academy of Pomona)

Bronze: Jordanna Daniels (Allegro Fencing Center & Stamford Fencing Center, LLC)

5th: Anna Cheng (West Coast Fencing Academy)

6th: Abigail Qiu (Oregon Fencing Alliance)

7th: Sophia Cord (Premier Fencing Academy)

8th: Esme Tran (Cali Fencing)

Y-10 Men’s Epee

Gold and National Champion: Lucas Lee (Yang Fencing Club)

Silver: Tomas Talandzevicius (Windy City Fencing–Chicago)

Bronze: Jerry Sun (Yang Fencing Club)

Bronze: Ethan Park (Elite Fencing Academy (GA) & Elite Fencing Academy (VA))

5th: Jaeyoo Shim (Olympic Fencers Club)

6th: Aiden Zhang (Alliance Fencing Academy)

7th: Thiesson Duchnowski (Windy City Fencing–Chicago)

8th: Asher You (Elite Fencing Academy (GA))

Y-10 Men’s Saber

Gold and National Champion: Branden Fu (South Bay Fencing Academy)

Silver: Gavin Luo (The Fencing Center)

Bronze: Roman Lvovskiy (Spartak)

Bronze: Cole Tabancay (South Bay Fencing Academy)

5th: James Wang (The Fencing Center)

6th: Max Motov (Dynamo Fencing Center Inc.)

7th: Jayden Park (Globus Fencing Academy)

8th: Arthav Desai (Southern California Fencing Academy (SOCALFA))

Y-12 Men’s Foil

Gold and National Champion: Hanson Chen (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)

Silver: Felix Fei Ge (Renaissance Fencing Club)

Bronze: Fletcher Mazaheri (Bluegrass Fencers' Club)

Bronze: Nathan Zhao (Bluegrass Fencers' Club & Queen City Fencers Club LLC)

5th: Brando Fukuda (Massialas Foundation (M Team))

6th: Jaden Lee (Golubitsky Fencing Center)

6th: Ryan Jazwinski (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)

8th: Jeremy Chang (Orange County International Fencers Club)

Division III Women’s Saber

Gold and National Champion: Lauren Ong (International Fencing Club)

Silver: Inès Dehon (Ohio Fencing Center)

Bronze: Lyra Duta (Cobra Fencing Club LLC)

Bronze: Mercer Colby (Nova Fencing Club & Vassar College Fencing Club)

5th: Alena Shearer (Laguna Fencing Center)

6th: Tishya Yadav (Jacksonville Fencing Club)

7th: Lily Padanilam (Nellya Fencers)

8th: Tanvi Cherukuri (Lone Star Fencing Center)

Division III Men’s Foil

Gold and National Champion: Kaiden Semapakdi-Chang (NEMA Fencing Center)

Silver: James Cha (Top Fencing Club)

Bronze: Christopher Dai (Space City Fencing Academy)

Bronze: Nicholas Ong (Elite International Fencers Club)

5th: Aman Bakshi (Fairfield County Fencing Academy AKA Fairfield Fencing Academy)

6th: Daniel Li (Team Touche Fencing Center)

7th: Kevin Lao (Moe Fencing Club LLC)

8th: Shan Wei Jr (Pittsburgh Fencers Club & Star Fencing Academy)


Day 9 Photos

Find the gallery here.


Read More#