NCAA fencing championships
The NCAA fencing championships are contested at an annual competition organized by the National [Collegiate Athletic Association] to determine the team and individual champions of co-educational collegiate fencing among its member programs in the United States. It has been held every year since 1941, except 2020.
Individual men's and women's championships are awarded in three events with an aggregate team championship awarded based on these individual performances.
Unlike most NCAA sports, the fencing championship is a single championship rather than being split into divisions; as such, teams from Division I, Division II, and Division III all compete together.
History
Prior to 1990, separate men's championships were held, but since then, fencing has been a coed sport with teams having men's and women's squads, although some schools field only a women's team. Fencing is a single-division sport with schools from all three NCAA divisions competing against each other.Fencing was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the Association for [Intercollegiate Athletics for Women] for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve sports; however, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA conquered the AIAW and usurped its authority and membership.
NCAA fencing follows the rules of the U.S. Fencing Association with several modifications.
Criticism of coed model
After publicity regarding the 2021 [NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Facilities inequality|differences in facilities] provided to participants in the 2021 Division I 2021 NCAA Division I [men's basketball tournament|men's] and women's basketball tournaments, the NCAA commissioned the law firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink to conduct a broad-based review of gender equity issues surrounding all of its championship events. The first phase dealt exclusively with Division I basketball; the second phase investigated all other NCAA championships, including fencing. In the second phase, both fencing stakeholders and NCAA staff identified a major gender inequity issue stemming from the NCAA's 1990 decision to combine the men's and women's team championships. As of the date of the report, no NCAA fencing programs fielded only a men's team, but several fielded only women's teams. Because the team champion was then determined by combining each school's men's and women's points earned, and entry rules limit the number of participants of each sex per school and region, women-only teams could not win the team championship. Some stakeholders suggested that men's and women's team championships be reintroduced, either as substitutes for or supplements to the current coed championship.Separate men's and women's team championships were reinstated, effective with the 2026 Championships.
Results
Separate team championships (2026–present)
Co-ed team championships (1990–2025)
Separate team championships (1982–1989)
Men's-only team championships (1941–1981)
- Note: Team scoring in 1990 was based on weapon team events standings. From 1991 to 1994, point values increased due to fencers not qualifying as part of a team being able to contribute points from individual performances. Weapon team events were eliminated in 1995, and team scoring was based entirely on individual performances; women's épée was added as a fifth weapon. Since 1998, team scoring has been based on a one-point system; women's sabre was added as a sixth weapon in 2000.
Champions