PHILADELPHIA - The Haverford College women's fencing team opened the 2025-26 season at the Coach Nikki Franke Classic, held Saturday at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University. The event featured teams from Divisions I, II, and III, as well as elite club programs, with fencers competing as individuals.

In épée, first-year Evelyn Penhoet finished 52nd overall, while senior Nina Chafee placed 79th.

Penhoet recorded a victory in her initial pool, defeating Victoria Doroshkevich of Temple. In the next round of pool play, she bested Lily Papadakis of NYU before falling to Auprell Edwards of Temple, 15-11, in the direct elimination tableau.

Chafee went winless in her initial pool but rebounded in the consolation rounds, earning four wins over Hannah Collins and Saira Quadri of Florida, Alisha Bourhill-Tumser of Drew, and Sodtugs Tsengelbayar of Bryn Mawr, ultimately finishing fifth in the consolation bracket.

In sabre, Carter Wood led the Fords with a 49th-place finish, ahead of Eliza Kollett (61st) and Sienna Chung (65th).

Wood recorded victories in her initial pool against Carmen Bolt-Turner of Fairleigh Dickinson and Katherine Blessing of Florida. In the second round of pool play, she defeated Meya Colin of FDU before falling 15-11 to Kunling Tong of Duke in the tableau round of 64.

Kollett defeated Amanda Wu of Hunter in her opening pool, then posted four wins in the consolation round, overcoming Skylar Pelletier and Echo Miller of Florida, as well as Mariama Barry and Kehinde Ayinde of Hunter, to finish sixth in the consolation bracket.

Chung went winless in her initial pool but went undefeated in the consolation bracket, defeating Wu and Samantha Lin of Hunter, Kristela Malaj of Florida, Randa Shalabi of NJIT, and Liliana Compton of Bryn Mawr to claim second place overall in the consolation bracket.

The Nikki Franke Classic continues Sunday with men's competition, beginning with men's épée at 8 a.m., returning to the strips at the Liacouras Center.