Haverford College

Eric Gardner '17 returns to the Haverford Fencing program ahead of the 2025-2026 season.

Gardner earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Haverford, where he was a two-time team captain and one of the program’s most accomplished epee fencers during his collegiate career. A two-time MACFA individual gold medalist and three-time NCAA Regional qualifier, Gardner consistently ranked among the top performers in the region.

During his senior season in 2016–17, he captured his second MACFA gold medal in epee and led the Fords in multiple invitationals, including top finishes at the Temple Open and MACFA Championship. He went 11-1 during the MACFA “B” vs. “C” bouts and placed 31st at the NCAA Regional. Gardner then took to the coaching ranks in 2018, being named an assistant coach for the Fords for the second half of the 2017-2018 season. During the 2015-2016 seaosn, Gardner earned his first captain selection, placed fifth at the Temple Open, and went undefeated (12-0) at the Dan Arnstein ’09 Invitational. He also tied for third at the MACFA Championship and placed 25th at the NCAA Regional. As a sophomore in 2014–15, Gardner finished 12th at the NCAA Regional to earn the region’s at-large distinction, placed 14th at the Temple Open, and compiled standout records of 15-3 and 12-3 at the Vassar and Philadelphia Invitationals, respectively.