October 2025 NAC, Day 4 Recap: Late Rallies, Fresh Mindsets and Gold Medal Moments

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Down 10–14 in the gold medal final, a fencer’s room for error becomes nonexistent. Fortunately, high-pressure moments are exactly where Gabi Hwang (Phoenix Fencing Academy) shines.

“Honestly, I was trying to just stay consistent in my footwork, and it ended up working out,” she says. “I just try to take it touch by touch. And, it is nerve wracking, but I try to just stay composed.”

That composure paid off. Hwang stormed back to win the Junior Women’s Saber gold medal — one of four titles awarded Monday, the fourth and final day of the October 2025 North American Cup in Salt Lake City.

When her energy started to dip during direct eliminations, Hwang found a quick (and fizzy) boost.

“I just bought a Monster, and I chugged the whole thing,” she says. “And that honestly kept me going for the rest of my DEs.”

Caffeine-fueled focus worked for another champion, too. In Cadet Women’s Epee, Scarlett Lee (New York Fencing Academy) turned her day around after a sluggish start — and an important pep talk.

“When I started fencing pools, I wasn't in the mood and I actually wanted to withdraw from the event,” she says. “But my coach, Misha [Mokretsov], he told me to go out, get a Coke, come back, walk in like it's a fresh day.”

That refresh, both mental and physical, made all the difference.

“I told myself that this is going to be the last bout I fence today, so I wanted to make it great,” she says. “Every single bout after that, the same mindset.”

Even when she began to sense the finish line, Lee stayed locked in.

“Not until the final when I had a lead,” she says. “I didn't want to relax. You might lose when you relax.”

In Junior Men’s Epee, Daniel Chirashnya (Academy of Fencing Masters) also had to fight until the very end. With the score tied at 14 in the final, he drew on a blend of confidence, calm, and gratitude.

“I always go with the mentality in priority that, no matter what, I'm gonna make a decision,” he says. “So even if I lose, I just have to tell myself, OK, you have to live with it. This is something you chose. And I have to remind myself that I'm here for a fun reason. I'm here to love this sport. And so I just smiled, told myself, let's enjoy this touch. And it worked.”

That joyful approach — paired with the support of his AFM teammates — made the gold even sweeter.

“So much excitement, so much adrenaline,” he says. “It's been such a long journey. We've had so many competitions and so much training, it just feels great to have something to prove for it.”

From clutch comebacks to mental resets, the final day of the October NAC capped off four days of inspiring performances in Salt Lake City. See you at the November NAC in Fort Worth.