Conference Accolades

2023-2024

Team Champions

Varsity Division

Women's Team Champion

MIT

Men's Team Champion

MIT

Combined Team Champion

MIT

Club Division

Women's Team Champions

Northeastern University AND

University of Massachusetts

Men's Team Champion

Northeastern University

Combined Team Champion

Northeastern University

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.

Varsity Division

Club Division

Andy Zhang

MIT -- Men's Foil

Alexandra Tzou

Brown -- Women's Sabre

Alexander Chi

Dartmouth -- Men's Foil

Jasminder Sarkaria

Northeastern -- Women's Foil

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.

Varsity Division

Club Division

Andy Zhang

MIT -- Men's Foil

Hannah Tao

MIT -- Women's Sabre

Alexander Chi

Dartmouth -- Men's Foil

Ashley Maestrado

Northeastern -- Women's Foil

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.

Varsity Division

First Team

Second Team

Club Division

First Team

Second Team

Elliot Lilien Award

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.

Rachel Liu

Boston College -- Women's Sabre

Varsity Division

Daniel Friend

Smith College -- Women's Foil

Club Division

Sachs Award

Bree Boyington

UNH -- Women's Sabre

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] As of 2023-2024, this award is given only in the Club Division.

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.

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.

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.

Varsity Division

Men: MIT

Women: Brandeis University

Club Division

Men: University of New Hampshire

Women: Smith College