Griffith and Watrall Claim Gold At NCAA Fencing West Regionals

Air Force fencing completed competition at the 2026 NCAA West Regional qualifier Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center on the University of the Incarnate Word campus in San Antonio, Texas. Senior Jack Griffith and junior Christina Watrall led the way by capturing first-place for the third times in their careers in their respective weapons.

Air Force had three total medalists on the day in competition against the West Region opponents of host UIW, Stanford and UC San Diego.

Watrall earned a three-peat in women's epee, going 8-2 in pool competition. She also won the epee competition as a freshman in 2024 and as a sophomore in 2025.

After failing to medal last season, Griffith came back in his senior season with a dominant 13-0 run through pool competition to claim his third men's foil title in four years.

Freshman Byung Kim was Air Force's third medalist, claiming bronze in men's epee. Kim medaled after earning seven wins.

In women's foil, senior Melissa Kline was the top Air Force finisher, placing ninth. In women's saber senior Mira Vestel led the Falcons with a fifth-place finish.

In men's saber, freshman Andrei Nazlymov just missed medaling, placing fourth.

Air Force returns to action tomorrow at the 2026 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) fencing championships. Competition begins at 9 am CT.

Air Force NCAA West Regional Results

Women's Foil (13 competitors)
9. Melissa Kline
11. Marisa Green
12. Madi Converse
13. Kailyn Choi

Women's Epee (11 competitors)
1. Christina Watrall
6. Ellie Kim
11. Svetlana Mandap

Women's Saber (12 competitors)
5. Mira Vestel
11. Priscilla Yao

Men's Epee (13 competitors)
3. Byung Kim
7. Omar Emara
12. Kaiden Choi

Men's Saber (12 competitors)
4. Andrei Nazlymov
8. Mack Luebbe

Men's Foil (14 competitors)
1. Jack Griffith
7. Richard Li
8. Sean Oh

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