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2023 Division I National Championships and April North American Cup: Thrilling Fencing Action Returns to St. Louis

04/17/2023, 5:45am CDT
By Bryan Wendell

From April 21–24, USA Fencing will take over America's Center Convention Complex where more than 1,800 fencers from 40 different states and the District of Columbia will compete for gold medals and national championships.


Division I Women's Epee action at the January 2023 NAC: Ketki Ketkar vs. Kat Holmes OLY. (Photo by Serge Timacheff)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Get ready for adrenaline-pumping action as the 2023 Division I National Championships and April North American Cup take over America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis from April 21-24. 

With some 1,841 fencers from 40 different states and the District of Columbia competing for gold medals and national championships, this event promises four days of electrifying fencing battles across all three weapons: epee, foil and saber.

Extra attention will be on the six individual and six team events in Division I, the top fencing classification, as Olympians and Olympic hopefuls fight for national glory. Three reigning national champions from 2022 — Kasia Nixon (women's epee), Tristan Szapary (men's epee), and Nick Itkin OLY (men's foil) — are expected to return to defend their titles, promising an even more exhilarating tournament. 

Each season, our senior fencers compete at national and international tournaments, earning points based on their performance at those competitions. The fencers with the most points in their weapon (epee, foil or saber) qualify to represent Team USA at international tournaments. This event in St. Louis is the final domestic event at which these senior-level athletes can earn points toward qualification for this summer’s Fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy.

Other classifications will feature fencers ranging from age 12 to 85, a testament to the fact that fencing is a lifelong sport offering competitive fun for all ages.

Admission to the event is free, and no tickets are required, so don't miss this opportunity to witness world-class fencing up close. Or if you can’t make it in person, follow @USAFencing on Instagram to stay updated with all the thrilling action, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and live updates.

Daily Schedule: Which Events Are Happening When?

With dozens of events over four days, there’s a chance to see thrilling competition in all three weapons every day.

Friday, April 21: Division I Men's Epee, Division I Men's Saber, Veteran Age Men's Foil, Veteran Age Women's Foil, Junior Women's Epee, Junior Women's Saber

Saturday, April 22: Division I Men's Foil, Division I Women's Epee, Division I Women's Saber, Veteran Men's Foil, Veteran Women's Foil, Junior Men's Saber, Junior Women's Foil, Division I Team Men's Epee

Sunday, April 23: Division I Women's Foil, Veteran Men's Epee, Veteran Women's Saber, Veteran Age Men's Saber, Veteran Age Women's Epee, Junior Men's Epee, Division I Team Men's Foil, Division I Team Men's Saber, Division I Team Women's Epee, Division I Team Women's Saber

Monday, April 24: Veteran Men's Saber, Veteran Women's Epee, Veteran Age Men's Epee, Veteran Age Women's Saber, Junior Men's Foil, Division I Team Women's Foil

Olympians Expected to Compete

While we can never guarantee which fencers will appear, these Olympians are expected to compete in St. Louis:

  • Miles Chamley-Watson (2012, 2016)
  • Timothy Glass (1980)
  • Kat Holmes (2016, 2020)
  • Kelley Hurley (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
  • Nick Itkin (2020)
  • Andrew Mackiewicz (2020)
  • Sabrina Massialas (2020)
  • Curtis McDowald (2020)
  • Chris O'Loughlin (1992)
  • Yeisser Ramirez (2020)
  • Philip Reilly (1980, 1984)
  • Khalil Thompson (2020)
  • Dagmara Wozniak (2012, 2016, 2020)

2022 Division I National Champions: A Look Back

Here’s who won the Division I title in 2022. See a full list of past national champions here.

  • Women’s Epee: Kasia Nixon

  • Women’s Foil: Lauren Scruggs

  • Women’s Saber: Zoe Kim

  • Men’s Epee: Tristan Szapary

  • Men’s Foil: Nick Itkin OLY

  • Men’s Saber: Eli Dershwitz OLY

Tag(s): Updates  April 2023 NAC