STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Wagner fencing program begins its schedule at the Coach Nikki Frankie Classic this weekend. The women's team will compete on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the men's team will compete on Sunday, Oct. 25.

This is the third straight year that the Seahawks have participated in the Classic, hosted by Temple at the Liacouras Center. Last season, senior sabrist Flavio Vinci took home the gold medal in the men's sabre, and junior sabrist Villo Nyiri captured the bronze medal.

The Seahawks are coming off an impressive 2025-26 season after they fielded a record-tying 21 regional qualifiers. The Seahawks return the five fencers that won 40 or more individual bouts, including Vinci, who returned to the NC Fencing Championships and became Wagner fencing's first-ever All-American.

Wagner will have senior sabrist Charlie Dolan, junior epeeist Maria Lopez Meneses, junior sabrist Villo Nyiri, and sophomore foilist Jakub Vrtilek leading the way as captains, as nine newcomers join the 20 remaining fencers for the upcoming campaign. 

This is the first of three competitions in as many weeks for the Green & White, as they follow their trip to Philadelphia with visits to NYU and Drew.

The Coach Nikki Frake Classic will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the women's epee and foil brackets, then the sabre bracket will begin at approximately 12 p.m., rounding out the first day of competition.