Denison Adds Men's NCAA Fencing, Building on Big Red's Championship Foundation

GRANVILLE, Ohio, and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Denison University will add varsity men's fencing in the 2026-27 season, marking the Big Red's 28th varsity sport and continuing the recent USA Fencing-led expansion of collegiate fencing.

The new program will join a Denison women's team that has risen from club status to the No. 1-ranked Division III program in the nation. Denison competes as an NCAA Division III member and is a charter member of the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Denison's launch comes as USA Fencing continues sustained, behind-the-scenes work with campus leaders to grow opportunities in the sport — from feasibility and program guidance to long-term strategic planning. That collaborative effort helped build the foundation for Denison to expand its fencing footprint.

"Denison has built something special with its women's program, and adding men's fencing doubles down on that investment in student-athletes and the sport's future," says Brad Suchorski, USA Fencing's Director of Member Services and Growth. "We're proud to support another institution that sees the value fencing brings to campus life."

The announcement continues a wave of program additions across college fencing. Schools including Fairleigh Dickinson, Arcadia and Wheaton (Massachusetts) have recently launched or announced new fencing programs, expanding opportunities for student-athletes nationwide — even as some other NCAA offerings have faced contraction.

With the addition, Denison will become one of approximately 37 NCAA men's fencing programs. There are currently 45 women's programs. Unlike most collegiate sports, fencing does not separate competition by division — all NCAA programs compete against one another, meaning Denison's men will face Division I opponents from the outset.

"Men's fencing is the second varsity team added to Big Red Athletics in the last four months and our 28th sport overall,” says Matt Tanney, Denison’s athletic director. “It's hard to name another athletics program in the country, at any level, with such growth and dynamism at their institution as Denison. Thanks to Coach Grandbois' leadership and steady development of our women's program the last seven years, we're ready to elevate a men's club team positioned to immediately compete in 2026. It's an exciting moment for fencing at Denison, and we know that existing and prospective Denisonians alike want to be part of that momentum in a varsity setting. We're grateful for the support of USA Fencing as we make this transition." 

Denison's women's fencing program provides the blueprint. Head coach Peter Grandbois founded a club team in 2011 and guided it to varsity status in 2019, when it became the school's 24th varsity sport. In the six years since, the program has climbed from ninth at the Midwest Championship to the top of Division III.

The 2024-25 squad won the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference championship and produced the program's first three Division III All-Americans. Denison has also recorded victories over Division I opponents including Ohio State, Temple, Sacred Heart and Air Force — a testament to the program's rapid development.

Grandbois, the 2024-25 Division III Women's Team Head Coach of the Year, brings elite credentials to the sideline. A former U.S. National Foil Team member, he won the 2014 USA Fencing National Championship and helped the U.S. Men's Veteran Foil Team earn a historic silver medal at the 2024 Veteran Fencing World Championships.

“Adding a varsity men’s program to our already strong varsity women’s program is a win/win for everyone,” Grandbois says. “It’s great for Denison, great for USA Fencing, and great for our team. The men’s club has been working hard for so many years. They deserve this. With the work ethic they’ve already established, I know that within a few short years, the men’s team will match the success of the women’s team and become one of the top Division III programs in the country.” 

Phil Andrews, USA Fencing's chief executive officer, said the addition reflects a growing recognition of fencing's value on college campuses.

"Every new program creates pathways for young fencers to compete at the collegiate level, and Denison's track record shows they're committed to excellence," Andrews says. "We're eager to continue partnering with institutions that share our vision for the sport's growth, and we applaud the efforts of Coach Grandbois to put Denison fencing on the map."

Denison is home to one of the nation's most successful Division III athletic departments. The Big Red won two national championships in 2024-25 — men's tennis and men's swimming — and has claimed 21 NCAC All-Sports trophies, a league record. The school routinely ranks among the top 20 Division III programs in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings.

The addition of men's fencing follows Denison's November announcement that women's water polo will become the school's 27th varsity sport beginning in 2026-27.

For prospective student-athletes and families, Denison's expansion means more chances to wear school colors, pursue a degree and compete on the national stage. For more information on Denison Athletics, visit denisonbigred.com. For more on USA Fencing, visit usafencing.org.To explore how your philanthropic support can help create and sustain collegiate fencing programs across the country, contact Meghan DeFord at m.deford@usafencing.org or 240-274-8363.