Junior & Cadet Worlds, Day 7: Wimmer Earns Historic Silver in Junior Men's Epee; Cafasso Reaches Top 8 in Women's Event

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Nathaniel Wimmer came to Rio as the reigning Cadet Men's Epee world champion. He's leaving with something Team USA hasn't seen in nearly two decades.

Wimmer (Elite Fencing Academy) earned silver in Junior Men's Epee on Day 7 of the 2026 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships — making him just the second American ever to reach the podium in the event, and the first since Graham Wicas won silver at the 2007 championships in Belek. In the 70-year history of Junior Men's Epee at the World Championships, only five Americans have ever medaled: Timothy Glass (bronze, 1975), Benjamin Ungar (bronze, 2006), Wicas (silver, 2007), and Samuel Imrek (bronze, 2023 and bronze, 2024).

His path to the final was a masterclass in composure and sustained excellence. He went 6-0 with a +19 indicator in pools, then beat Ukraine's Arseniy Karapysh 15-12 in the Round of 16 and Russia's Ilya Lobikin 15-5 in the quarterfinals — seemingly getting stronger with every bout.

The semifinal against Kruz Schembri of the Virgin Islands — a former Cadet Men's Epee world medalist who fences for Notre Dame — was a different story entirely. Wimmer fell behind 7-1 before mounting one of the day's most remarkable comebacks, ultimately winning 15-10 to advance to the final.

The silver also makes Wimmer one of the rare fencers to reach the podium in both Cadet and Junior Men's Epee — a testament to the consistency and growth that has defined his Junior/Cadet Worlds career.

In Junior Women's Epee, Natalya Cafasso (Olympia Fencing Center) had a strong day, finishing 8th in a field of 169. Leehi Machulsky (Academy of Fencing Masters, Princeton University) — who earned bronze in this event at the 2024 championships in Riyadh — finished 11th, just missing the quarterfinals. Regina Lee (Swords Fencing Studio) rounded out a solid U.S. showing with a 17th-place finish. Jolie Korfonta (DC Fencers Club, Savage Fencing Club) finished 77th.

In Junior Men's Epee, Simon Lioznyansky (University of Pennsylvania, Alliance Fencing Academy) turned in a strong 14th-place finish, and James Sennewald (Alliance Fencing Academy, University of Notre Dame) finished 34th. Elijah Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy, University of Notre Dame) — younger brother of three-time Junior/Cadet Worlds medalist Samuel Imrek — finished 67th in his first appearance at the championships.

Junior Women's Epee

8th place: Natalya Cafasso (Olympia Fencing Center) 11th place: Leehi Machulsky (Academy of Fencing Masters, Princeton University) 17th place: Regina Lee (Swords Fencing Studio) 77th place: Jolie Korfonta (DC Fencers Club, Savage Fencing Club)

Junior Men's Epee

Silver: Nathaniel Wimmer (Elite Fencing Academy) 14th place: Simon Lioznyansky (University of Pennsylvania, Alliance Fencing Academy) 34th place: James Sennewald (Alliance Fencing Academy, University of Notre Dame) 67th place: Elijah Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy, University of Notre Dame)