Temple Women's Fencing Ranks No. 14 in Preseason
Temple's women's fencing team opens the season ranked 14th in the USFCA Collegiate Fencing Coaches' Poll.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Wrestling
Temple University's women's fencing team is ranked No. 14 in the season-opening USFCA Collegiate Fencing Coaches' Poll, down from No. 12 last year. The University of Notre Dame tops the preseason poll, followed by Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Duke.
Why it matters
The USFCA ranked individual weapons in its preseason poll for the first time this year, giving Temple's foil and sabre programs their own national standing. Temple is ranked 12th in the nation for foil and 15th for sabre.
Temple's overall preseason ranking of No. 14 compares with No. 12 last year, while its national rankings are 12th in foil and 15th in sabre. The poll's rankings will change as the season's competition results come in.
The players
Temple University
A public research university in Philadelphia whose women's fencing team is ranked No. 14 in the preseason poll.
USFCA Collegiate Fencing Coaches' Poll
The national coaches' poll that ranks collegiate fencing programs and this year added individual weapons rankings for the first time.
University of Notre Dame
The university whose fencing program holds the top spot in the USFCA preseason poll.
The details
The USFCA issued the ranking in its season-opening preseason poll, with Notre Dame holding the top spot ahead of Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Duke. Temple's first events include the Elite Invitational at Penn on Saturday, November 14, and the North American Fencing Cup in Columbus, Ohio, November 20-23.
Timeline
Last year: Temple was ranked No. 12 in the USFCA poll.
Saturday, November 14: Temple competes at the Elite Invitational at Penn.
November 20-23: Temple competes at the North American Fencing Cup in Columbus, Ohio.
Season Trajectory
The USFCA's decision to rank individual weapons for the first time gives programs like Temple separate national standings for foil and sabre in the preseason. Temple's slip from No. 12 to No. 14 overall places it within a top tier that includes Notre Dame, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Duke.
Temple's ranking sets a baseline for its season, and the November 14 Penn invitational and November 20-23 Columbus event will show whether it holds. Fans tracking the team can follow its results against the nation's top programs at both events.
The takeaway
Temple's No. 14 preseason ranking is a starting point, and its early results at Penn and Columbus will determine whether its national position improves.
What happens next
Temple's fencing team competes at the Elite Invitational at Penn on Saturday, November 14, and at the North American Fencing Cup in Columbus, Ohio, November 20-23.
Further reading
For more on regional college combat-sport programs, see Wrestling coverage for Philadelphia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Temple.
