Conference Accolades
2012 and earlier
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).
champion men's teams
2012: Sacred Heart University
2011: Sacred Heart University
2010: Sacred Heart University
<missing records...>
1994: University of Massachusetts
Champion women's teams
George H. Fischer Trophy Winners
2012: Brown and Boston College
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: Tufts University and MIT
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.
Champion combined teams
Sollee-Lilien Trophy Winners
2012: Brown University and Scred Heart University
2011: Vassar College
2010: Brown University
2009: Brandeis University
2008: Brandeis University
2007: Brandeis University
2006: MIT
2005: Brown University, MIT, and Brandeis University
2004: MIT
2003: Harvard University
2002: Harvard University and MIT
2001: MIT
2000: MIT and Brandeis University
1999: MIT and Brandeis University
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.
Fencers of the Year - Men
2008: Kevin Shanahan -- UMass Men's Sabre
Records for other recipients are missing.
Fencers of the Year - Women
2012: Robin Shin - MIT Women's Sabre
Records for other recipients are missing.
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.
This award was first awarded in 201
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 (minimums are 20 for men, 24 for women). This threshold is common to all of the conference's individual accolades.
Conference all-stars are viewable only on the accolades pages for each season (due to space).
Records for conference all-stars for 2012 and earlier are not available online and may be incomplete.
If you are interested in obtaining these, please contact us.
Elliot Lilien Award
Lilien award winners
2012: Katie LeClair - Vassar College Women's Foil
2011: Robin Shin - MIT Women's Sabre
2010: Stephanie Allard - UNH Women's Foil
2009: Sophie Courser - Vassar College Women's Epee
2008: Kevin Shanahan - UMass Men's Sabre
2007: Trevor Chang - MIT Men's Epee
2006: Kate Dusinberre - UNH Women's Foil AND Julia Shih - Tufts University (tie)
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 University Women's Epee
1999: Ben Hardt - Brown University Men's Epee
This award was first given in 1999.
Named after NFC 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.
Sachs Award
Sachs Award Winners
2012: Jacqueline Cordell - UNH Women's Sabre
2011: Brooke Schieffer - Vassar College Women's Sabre
2010: Hathairat Sawaengsri - Dartmouth College 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.
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.
Coaches of the Year
Given for men's team and women's team coaches.
The winner is selected by voting at the coaches and team captains at the annual meeting.
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.
Coaches of the Year - Men's Teams
2012: Dartmouth College - Self-Coached
2011: Tom Vrabel - Sacred Heart University
It is unclear whether the award was not given prior to 2011, or if there missing records.
Coaches of the Year - Women's Teams
2012: Syd Fadner - Boston College
2011: Bruce Gillman - Vassar College
It is unclear whether the award was not given prior to 2011, or if there missing records.