Conference Accolades
Team Champions
Team champions are determined by counting total team victories in Conference meets. There are no tie-breakers; ties (shared titles) are possible.
We recognize men's team champions, women's team champions (George H. Fischer Trophy), and combined team champions (Sollee-Lilien Trophy).
Men
2023-2024
Varsity Division: MIT
Club Division: Northeastern
2023: Boston College
2022: Boston College and MIT
2021: Not awarded (pandemic year)
2020: Boston College
2019: Boston College
2018: Brandeis University
2017: Brandeis University
2016: Brown University
2015: Brandeis University and Sacred Heart University
2014: Brown University and Sacred Heart University
2013: Sacred Heart University
2012: Sacred Heart University
2011: Sacred Heart University
2010: Sacred Heart University
<missing records...>
1994: University of Massachusetts
The 1992-93 inaugural season was an "pilot" season. No champions were declared, as the real prize was the proof of viability of the conference.
Women
2023-2024
Varsity Division: MIT
Club Division: Northeastern and UMass
2023: Brown University and Tufts University
2022: Brown University
2021: Not awarded (pandemic year)
2020: Boston College
2019: Boston College
2018: Boston College and Brown University
2017: Boston College
2016: Boston College and Brandeis University
2015: Brown University
2014: Brown University and Sacred Heart University
2013: Brown University
2012: Boston College and Brown University
2011: Vassar College
2010: Brandeis University
2009: Brandeis University
2008: Brown University
2007: Brown University
2006: Brown University
2005: MIT
2004: MIT
2003: Harvard University
2002: MIT
2001: Harvard University
2000: MIT
1999: MIT
1998: MIT
1997: MIT and Tufts University
1996: Brown University
1995: Brandeis University
1994: Brown University
The 1992-93 inaugural season was an "pilot" season. No champions were declared, as the real prize was the proof of viability of the conference.
Combined
2023-2024
Varsity Division: MIT
Club Division: Northeastern
2023: Boston College
2022: Boston College
2021: Not awarded (pandemic year)
2020: Boston College
2019: Boston College
2018: Boston College and Brandeis University
2017: Boston College
2016: Brandeis University
2015: Brown University and Sacred Heart University
2014: Brown University and Sacred Heart University
2013: Brown University
2012: Brown University and Sacred Heart University
2011: Vassar College
2010: Brown University
2009: Brandeis University
2008: Brandeis University
2007: Brandeis University
2006: MIT
2005: Brandeis University, Brown University, and MIT
2004: MIT
2003: Harvard University
2002: Harvard University and MIT
2001: MIT
2000: Brandeis University and MIT
1999: Brandeis University and MIT
1998: MIT
1997: MIT
Award not given prior to 1997
Fencers of the Year
Given to the top male and female fencers in the conference.
All-star rankings are used to select fencers of the year. The all-star who has the greatest victory percentage across all weapons in a gender is used to select the fencer of the year. In the case of ties, there are no tie-breakers defined; ties are possible.
Past Winners
2023-2024
Varsity Division: Andy Zhang (MIT, Men's Foil); Alexandra Tzou (Brown, Women's Sabre)
Club Divsion: Alexander Chi (Dartmouth, Men's Foil); Jasminder Sarkaria (Northeastern, Women's Foil)
2023: Ryan Ho (Boston College, Men's Foil); Maggie Shealy (Brandeis, Women's Sabre)
2022: Josh Sohn (MIT, Men's Sabre); Rebecca Whang (Brown, Women's Sabre)
2021: Not awarded -- pandemic season
2020: Timmy Frank (Brown, Men's Epee); Kristin Palmer (MIT, Women's Sabre)
2019: Junseo "Thomas" Park (Boston College, Men's Epee); Joanne Carminucci (Brandeis, Women's Foil)
2018: Connor Rounds (Boston College, Men's Sabre); Helen Shakarova (MIT, Women's Epee)
2017: Tyler Endee (Sacred Heart, Men's Foil); Katherine Mentzer (Dartmouth, Women's Sabre)
2016: Eli Polston (Vassar, Men's Sabre); Julia Greene (Sacred Heart, Women's Sabre)
2015: Barrett Weiss (Brown, Men's Foil); Julia Greene (Sacred Heart, Women's Sabre)
2014: Simon Jones (Brown, Men's Epee); Caitlin Taylor (Brown, Women's Sabre)
2013: Stuart Holmes (Sacred Heart, Men's Foil); Jayme Smith (Sacred Heart, Women's Foil)
2012: < missing records for men >; Robin Shin (MIT, Women's Sabre)
2007 through 2011: missing records for both men and women
2008: Kevin Shanahan (UMass, Men's Sabre); < missing records for women >
1995 through 2007: missing records for both men and women
1994: Taro Yamashita (Brown, Men's Epee); < missing records for women >
The 1992-93 inaugural season was an "pilot" season. No fencers of the year were declared, as the real prize was the proof of viability of the conference.
Rookies of the Year
Given to the top male and female fencers in the conference who are freshmen at the conclusion of the season.
All-star rankings are used to select rookies of the year. The all-star rookie who has the greatest victory percentage across all weapons in a gender is used to select the fencer of the year. In the case of ties, there are no tie-breakers defined; ties are possible.
Past Winners
2023-2024
Varsity Division: Andy Zhang (MIT, Men's Foil); Hannah Tao (MIT, Women's Sabre)
Club Division: Alexander Chi (Dartmouth, Men's Foil); Ashley Maestrado (Northeastern, Women's Foil)
2023: Surya Sakhamuri (MIT, Men's Sabre); Grace Li (Brown, Women's Foil)
2022: Tony Escueta (Brandeis, Men's Sabre); Rebecca Whang (Brown, Women's Sabre)
2021: Not awarded -- pandemic season
2020: Nick Andrade (Brown, Men's Foil); Kristin Palmer (MIT, Women's Sabre)
2019: Junseo "Thomas" Park (Boston College, Men's Epee); Laura Boden (Boston College, Women's Epee)
2018: Justin Herman (Boston College, Men's Foil); Signe Golash (Brown, Women's Sabre)
2017: Ian Quin (Brandeis, Men's Foil); Jessica Gets (Brandeis, Women's Foil)
2016: Umar Masood (Brown, Men's Foil); Samantha Abbott (Sacred Heart, Women's Epee)
2015: Guillermo Narvaez (Brandeis, Men's Foil); Clarissa Allen (Brown, Women's Foil)
This award was first given in 2015.
Conference all-stars
We recognize sustained achievement by individuals by bestowing First Team (top 3 performers) and Second Team (next 3 top performers) in each weapon.
Once the bouts fenced threshold* is met, the victory percentage (greater value prevails) is used to determine all-star ranking . In the case of ties, indicators (touches scored – touches received; greater difference prevails) are used. Further tie breakers are undefined.
*Bouts fenced threshold: To be eligible, a fencer must fence in a minimum of 2/3 of the scheduled bouts in the season. This threshold is common to all of the conference's individual accolades.
For past winners, please see the annual accolades pages. Records from 2012 and earlier are not available online, and may be incomplete. Please contact us if you are interested in all-stars from that period.
Elliot Lilien Award
Named after Northeast Fencing Conference founder, former Commissioner, and USA Fencing Hall of Fame - nominated coach Elliot Lilien. This award is given to that fencer in the conference who shows exemplary sportsmanship and an excellent parry system.
To be eligible, a fencer meet the bouts fenced threshold that is also applied to all-star eligibility.
The winner is selected by voting at the coaches and captains at the annual meeting.
Past Winners
2024:
Club Division: Daniel Friend (Smith, Women's Foil)
Varsity Division: Rachel Liu (Boston College, Women's Sabre)
2023: Robert Washbourne (UMass, Men's Epee)
2022: Sam Wolstenholme-Britt (Wellesley, Women's Epee)
2021: Not awarded -- pandemic season
2020: Katie Vella (Boston University, Women's Epee)
2019: Cameron Mayer (Boston College, Men's Foil)
2018: Kyle Berney (Brandeis, Men's Sabre)
2017: Benji Lin (MIT, Men's Sabre)
2016: Tom Hearne (Brandeis, Men's Epee)
2015: Cara Hall (Boston College, Women's Epee)
2014: Julian Cardillo (Brandeis, Men's Foil)
2013: Nikhil Patel (Boston College, Men's Epee)
2012: Katie LeClair (Vassar, Women's Foil)
2011: Robin Shin (MIT, Women's Sabre)
2010: Stephanie Allard (UNH, Women's Foil)
2009: Sophie Courser (Vassar, Women's Epee)
2008: Kevin Shanahan (UMass, Men's Sabre)
2007: Trevor Chang (MIT, Men's Epee)
2006: Shared: Kate Dusinberre (UNH, Women's Foil) AND Julia Shih (Tufts, <weapon not recorded>)
2005: Tyler Jacobson (UMass, Women's Foil)
2004: Leo Cook (UMass, Men's Foil)
2003: Linnea Selinga (UNH, Women's Foil)
2002: Chris Geller (Tufts, Men's Foil)
2001: Caroline Purcell (MIT, Women's Sabre)
2000: Margaret Kosmala (Brown, Women's Epee)
1999: Ben Hardt (Brown, Men's Epee)
This award was first given in 1999.
Sachs Award
Named after Elif and Jason Sachs, former coaches at Tufts University. Given to the fencer "with the best record who started fencing in College." [from the award inscription]
To be eligible, a must not have had any experience in fencing prior to fencing in college.
All-star rankings are used to select the Sachs award winner. The eligible fencer who has the greatest victory percentage across all weapons and genders is selected. In the case of ties, there are no tie-breakers defined; ties are possible.
Effective starting in 2024, this award is applied only to the Club Division.
Past Winners
2024: Bree Boyington (UNH, Women's Sabre)
2023: Daniel Friend (Smith, Women's Foil)
2022: Tiyan Eweka (UMass, Women's Foil)
2021: Not awarded -- pandemic season
2020: Subin Jeong (Tufts, Women's Sabre)
2019: Ellie Ng (Dartmouth, Women's Foil)
2018: Meg Harney (Wellesley, Women's Sabre)
2017: Ellie Ng (Dartmouth, Women's Foil)
2016: Acadia Kratkiewicz (Smith, Women's Foil)
2015: Lindsey Lam (Dartmouth, Women's Sabre)
2014: Anna Degtyareva (UMass, Women's Sabre)
2013: Anna Degtyareva (UMass, Women's Sabre)
2012: Jacqueline Cordell (UNH, Women's Sabre)
2011: Brooke Schieffer (Vassar, Women's Sabre)
2010: Hathairat Sawaengsri (Dartmouth, Women's Sabre)
2009: Laura Brassard (UMass, Women's Sabre)
2008: Laura Brassard (UMass, Women's Sabre)
2007: Laura Brassard (UMass, Women's Sabre)
2006: Ashley Bailey (UNH, Women's Sabre)
2005: Bethany Hughes (UNH, Women's Sabre)
This award was first given in 2005.
Coaching Staffs of the Year
Given for men's team and women's team coaching staffs.
The winner is selected by voting at the coaches and team captains at the annual meeting.
Past Winners
2024:
Club Division: Men: University of New Hampshire; Women: Smith College
Varsity Division: Men: MIT; Women: Brandeis University
2023: Men: Boston College and Brown University; Women: Tufts University
2022: Men: MIT; Women: Brown
2021: Not awarded -- pandemic season
2020: Men: Boston College; Women: Wellesley
2019: Men: Boston College; Women: Wellesley
2018: Men: Brandeis; Women: Boston College
2017: Men: Brandeis; Women: Boston College
2016: Men: Brandeis; Women: Dartmouth
Prior to 2016, this award was the "Coach of the Year," and recognized the head coach of the team, or the entire team in the cases where the team did not have a coach. Starting in 2016, this award name was changed to reflect the contribution of the entire coaching staff, and the award was given in the school's name.
2015: Men: Bill Shipman (Brandeis); Women: Syd Fadner (Boston College)
2014: Men: Bill Shipman (Brandeis); Women: Dartmouth (self-coached)
2013: Men: Tom Vrabel (Sacred Heart); Women: Scott Tundermann (Smith)
2012: Men: Dartmouth (self-coached); Women: Syd Fadner (Boston College)
2011: Men: Tom Vrabel (Sacred Heart); Bruce Gillman (Vassar)
This award was first given in 2011.
Academic All-Conference Awards
This award recognizes individual and team academic excellence achieved by conference fencers. This award will be given for the first time in 2021 for the 2020-2021 season.
Criteria for individual recognition:
A fencer must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). The GPA must:
Include grades for the fall of the current season (or the grading period that ends by January in the case of a non-semester grading period), and
Include two consecutive marking periods (the fall of the current season does not necessarily need to be one of those consecutive marking periods, but may be);
Fencer must be on the team roster at least one semester (or marking term) of the current season.
Criteria for team recognition:
The average of the entire roster's cumulative GPA must be 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale);
Every fencer on the roster at any point during the season will be included in the team average GPA, including those fencers who may not otherwise be eligible (see above; e.g. first year fencers).
Past winners are available on the annual accolades pages only.