Just weeks after competing in his first NCAA championships, Princeton freshman Alec Brooke secured a silver medal in épée at the Junior World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Among a field of over 200 fencers, Brooke’s impressive performance earned him the runner-up spot. He started off strong with a 5-1 record in pool bouts, ranking 25th at that stage. Brooke then continued his success in the elimination bracket, winning six consecutive bouts to reach the final. Along the way, he defeated top competitors from Turkey, Japan, Britain, Canada, and Italy before narrowly falling to Switzerland’s Alban Aebersold in the championship match.
In his first year, Brooke was named a first-team All-Ivy League member after earning a bid to the NCAA championships and placing 14th. Meanwhile, fellow Princeton freshman Tatiana Nazlymov also had a strong showing at the Junior World Championships, finishing 15th out of 132 fencers in the junior women’s saber competition. Nazlymov went 4-2 in pools, ranking 37th before the elimination bracket where she won several matches before being eliminated in the round of 16. She defeated opponents from Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria before encountering a tough matchup against Georgian fencer Alexandra Kuvaeva.
Nazlymov was recognized as a USFCA all-region first-team honoree in her rookie season with Princeton, participating in multiple events for the team. Notably, Nazlymov has qualified for the Olympic Games and will represent Team USA in both the individual and team women’s saber competitions. Results from her competition at the Junior World Championships can be found on the event’s website.