USA Fencing Announces the 2025-26 Parafencing National Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Fencing has designated the official U.S. Parafencing National Team for the 2025-26 season.

As National Team members, these six athletes will have access to tailored training camps, enhanced athlete services and support from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and for the first time, USA Fencing will be providing financial support to parafencing national team athletes for travel to designated international competitions and traning camps. That means a clearer pathway to success at theParalympic Games and other international events, including World Para Fencing competitions.

Congrats to these 2025-26 national team members:

• Ellen Geddes PLY

• Noah Hanssen PLY

• Victoria Isaacson PLY

• Scott Rodgers PLY

• Garrett Schoonover PLY

• Jataya Taylor PLY

Athletes earned their spots on the National Team based on a combination of national and international competition results, as well as evaluations by USA Fencing’s coaching staff, led by head coach Eric Soyka.

“I'm very excited to introduce this year's national team,” Soyka says. “Our national team athletes have already shown great growth and leadership in the program within the past year. As we look toward LA28, we are excited to increase our training time and ramp up their progress for the upcoming qualification cycle. These athletes are amazing, hardworking individuals; working with them is a privilege.”

This season’s designation continues USA Fencing’s commitment to providing a structured and robust pathway for parafencers, aligning with the organization’s Strategic Plan to grow and elevate parafencing across the country.

“There have been huge steps forward in the parafencing program over the last few years," says Beth Mahr, Parafencing Manager. The increased support for our National Team athletes will make a big difference in their training and competing, and it is happening at a crucial time to lay a strong foundation ahead of the LA28 qualification period beginning."

The U.S. Parafencing National Team builds upon strategic changes made in recent years to strengthen the pipeline, including the introduction of a domestic classification process and a tiered athlete pathway with categories for Elite, Emerging, Development and Recreational athletes. These initiatives ensure a steady flow of athletes ready to represent the U.S. on the world stage.

And what about those athletes who show promise but have not yet met the criteria for National Team status? They’ll join the Emerging athlete pool, introduced as part of USA Fencing’s new parafencing pipeline. That status includes targeted development programs to ensure these athletes are well-prepared to advance within the sport as we approach the Paralympics in 2028, 2032 and beyond.