History of Cornell Fencing

A Dynamic Tradition of Excellence

Cornell has a strong tradition of providing students with opportunities to participate in athletics at the highest levels. The Men's Varsity Team became a national power in the 1930s under head coach Georges Cointe. Cornell squads competed and medaled in the Intercollegiate Fencing Association, and was IFA three-weapon champion in 1955. Richard Pew (1955) placed fourth in the 1956 Olympics.

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The first Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association championship tournament was held at Cornell in 1929, and the Women's Varsity Team claimed the national crown the following year. Cornell returned to the top of the fencing world under head coach Graeme Jennings in 1991, winning back-to-back NIWFA championships. Coach Ariana Klinkov joined the Big Red in 2019. In her first season as coach, she led the Women to a program best 24-10 record and to an upset win over No. 1-ranked Princeton at the Northwestern Duals. Three Cornell fencers were selected for the All-Ivy squads and qualified for 2020 NCAA Championships.

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At the end of the 1993 season, the Men’s Varsity Fencing team lost its Varsity status as a path for to remain in compliance with Title IX. They became a student-run Men's Club Team and began competing in club circuits with great success. They also are the official Practice Squad for the Women's Varsity; they practice and attend competitions together.

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The Recreational Club was created by  Cornell alum and current students to provide fencing opportunities to a broader audience. 

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The Cornell Fencing Association was founded on April 2, 2015 by a group of Cornell fencers and alumni, in partnership with the Athletic Department, Coaching Staff, and the Athletic Alumni Affairs Department. The CFA was established to encourage, promote, and support the fencing program at Cornell University.