Air Force Fencing With Five Qualifiers For NCAA Championships
3/10/2026 5:42:00 PM | Fencing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force fencing had five cadet-athletes selected as qualifiers for the 2026 NCAA Fencing Championships, announced today by the NCAA. Senior Jack Griffith and junior Christina Watrall lead the way with their third trip to the Fencing NC.
On the women's side Watrall qualified for the third time in women's epee, along with senior Melissa Kline, who qualified for the second time in women's foil. Watrall is the three-time defending NCAA West Regional women's epee champion and has also won the previous two MPSF women's epee titles. For Kline, it is a rewarding journey back from a knee injury that essentially wiped out her entire junior season. Kline is a two-time All-MPSF selection and last made the NCAAs as a freshman.
On the men's side, Griffith and freshman Richard Li qualified in men's foil. Freshman Andrei Nazlymov rounds out the men's team, qualifying for men's saber. Griffith is the three-time NCAA West Regional men's epee champion and two-time MPSF men's foil champion. Li has posted 47 wins so far this season and earned a third-place finish at the MPSF Championships in men's foil. Nazlymov is the MPSF saber champion.
Air Force's five qualifiers are the most since six qualified in 2023.
The NCAA Championships takes place March 19-22 in South Bend, Ind., with Notre Dame as the host institution.
On the women's side Watrall qualified for the third time in women's epee, along with senior Melissa Kline, who qualified for the second time in women's foil. Watrall is the three-time defending NCAA West Regional women's epee champion and has also won the previous two MPSF women's epee titles. For Kline, it is a rewarding journey back from a knee injury that essentially wiped out her entire junior season. Kline is a two-time All-MPSF selection and last made the NCAAs as a freshman.
On the men's side, Griffith and freshman Richard Li qualified in men's foil. Freshman Andrei Nazlymov rounds out the men's team, qualifying for men's saber. Griffith is the three-time NCAA West Regional men's epee champion and two-time MPSF men's foil champion. Li has posted 47 wins so far this season and earned a third-place finish at the MPSF Championships in men's foil. Nazlymov is the MPSF saber champion.
Air Force's five qualifiers are the most since six qualified in 2023.
The NCAA Championships takes place March 19-22 in South Bend, Ind., with Notre Dame as the host institution.
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