LA JOLLA, Calif. — The United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) has announced its 2026 All-Academic awards, which feature both UC San Diego fencing squads earning team awards. The Tritons also saw 32 fencers earn individual All-Academic honors and 14 receive additional Scholar of Distinction recognition.
 
All-Academic Team honors went to squads with at least a 3.30 grade point average during the season. The Triton women combined for a 3.59 GPA and were one of 21 teams honored. The Triton men combined for a 3.48 GPA and were one of 14 teams honored.
 
The USFCA also recognized individual scholar-athletes based on their combined fall and winter quarter GPAs. Anyone with an in-season GPA of 3.30 or higher received All-Academic honors, while those with at least a 3.70 GPA were further awarded as Scholars of Distinction.
 
SCHOLAR OF DISTINCTION RECIPIENTS
Men's Team
Diego Barrios, Saber, Philosophy
Adi Jain, Foil, Mathematics-Computer Science
Ben Kim, Epee, Computer Science
Ryan Kim-Cogan, Saber, Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Scott Lao, Foil, Business Economics
Sam Zubatiy, Saber, Computer Science
 
Women's Team
Alexis Chew, Foil, Human Biology
Bonnie Davis, Foil, Cognitive Science
Zara Fearns, Saber, Clinical Psychology
Pia Huber, Epee, Ecology, Behavior & Evolution
Katherine Kim, Foil, Social Psychology
Alice Lan, Epee, Cognitive Science/Business Psychology
Emily Naka, Saber, Business Economics
Renee Zuhars, Epee, Microbiology
 
ALL-ACADEMIC RECIPIENTS
Men's Team
Nurzhan Abzhanov, Epee, Computer Science
Arthur Bonifield, Saber, Political Science
Dayus Gohel, Epee, Biochemistry
Kevin Kim, Epee, Business Economics
Jacob Levy, Foil, General Biology
Sunny Sharma, Epee, Business Psychology
Hananiah So, Saber, Political Science/Public Law
Lucas Zeng, Foil, International Affairs
 
Women's Team
Zehra Anbarlilar, Foil, Cognitive Science
Bella Balogh, Epee, General Biology
Yasmine Daher, Epee, Chemistry
Natalie Brooke Gebala, Epee, General Biology
Hania Hafeez, Epee, Biochemistry
Erenei Ligh, Saber, Business Psychology
Lily Nelson-Love, Epee, Bioengineering: BioSystems
Siena Nguyen, Saber, Business Economics
Piper Randolph, Foil, Astrophysics
Ella Tang, Foil, NanoEngineering
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.