Cleveland, Ohio (03/08/26) - After hosting CCFCs, the Denison women's fencing team made its way to Cleveland State for the NCAA Midwest Regionals. This is an individual event where anywhere between 2 and 5 fencers per weapon can qualify for the national championships based on a complex formula that at a basic level weighs qualification as 60% based on the regional tournament result and 40% based on the season. Denison faced Lawrence, Wayne State, Notre Dame, the Ohio State, Northwestern, Detroit Mercy, and the host school, Cleveland State.

Senior Velma Hall was the top foilist to represent the Big Red with an 11th-place finish. Fellow senior Natalie Isberg was the top saberist to represent the Big Red with a 12th-place finish, and in epee, first-year Tessa Randleman finished as the top epeeist in 18th place. The Big Red's performance this weekend resulted in Denison being the top-finisher among Division III institutions in both foil and sabre.

"Coach Florencia and I were really pleased with the women's performance," head coach Peter Grandbois commented. "The women ended the season strong with our second-best finish yet at regionals. And while it looks like we probably won't qualify anyone to nationals this year (selections won't be announced until Wednesday, March 9), the women fought hard and had many personal bests."

En route to her 11th-place finish, Hall tallied three victories in the first round, helping her advance to the round of twelve, ultimately finishing the day with five total victories, the final two of which were against Lira Cannon of Ohio State and Anna Quinn of Cleveland State. Isberg also won three of her matches in the first round pool to secure her selection into the round of twelve where she claimed one victory against Northwestern's Nisha Hild. Tessa earned three victories in the first round of pool competition, with one of her three early victories coming in a bout against Julia Semikin of the Ohio State University.

Women's Epee finishes:

Tessa Randleman- 18th

Claire Anderson- 21st
 

Women's Foil finishes:

Velma Hall- 11th

Lal Ertun - 14th

Calleigh Tracz- 17th

Bella Musto- 19th
 

Women's Saber finishes:

Natalie Isberg-12th

Joyce Yu- 16th

Scarlett Shelley - 17th

Delaney Brown-18th