Banner Season: Teams focused on producing top performances on the piste at women’s finale

Graphic on a blue background with an action shot of a Queen?s women?s fencer with the OUA Women?s Fencing Championship logo and event details next to the photo.
February 6, 2025

Burlington, Ont. – After five straight titles from Toronto, Western powered to the top on the piste last time out. Now, at the 2025 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women’s Fencing Championship, the Mustangs will look to make it back-to-back banners, the Blues aim to bring the title back their way, and the rest of the field looks to push for podium finishes of their own. The individual and team relays will take place at the Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation Centre from February 8th to 9th.

EVENT DETAILS

Host: Queen’s Gaels
Date: February 8 – February 9, 2025
Venue: Athletics & Recreation Centre (Queen’s University)
Participating Teams (13): Brock Badgers, Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, McMaster Marauders, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen’s Gaels, RMC Paladins, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Trent Excalibur, Waterloo Warriors, Western Mustangs, York Lions
Format: Women’s Open Championship
Past Champions: Western Mustangs

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH

Nikhita Antil, RMC Paladins | Always looking to improve the details of her fencing, Antil’s attention to detail helped her rise to the top of the sabre podium at the 2024 OUA Championship. Beyond her proficiency in the discipline, the senior from Toronto, Ont. also won the Dave O’Donnell Trophy for style, spirit, and good sportswomanship. This led her to becoming not only the fencing team’s top woman athlete, but also RMC’s top woman athlete overall for the year.

Trinity Armstrong, RMC Paladins | Armstrong is a natural fit for epee with her power, height, and reach. She is an athlete that embraces her training, lessons, and always takes notes on how she can learn and improve. She is a strong individual fencer and fierce on the strip, continuing to excel and grow as a fencer throughout her four years at RMC.

Evangeline Dryburgh, Waterloo Warriors | As team captain of the foil team, Dryburgh has had a strong season for the black and gold. The fifth-year senior from Marmora, Ont. has claimed a bronze medal at the Queen’s Open and a sixth-place showing at the Brock Open, and as she enters her fifth women’s fencing finale, Dryburgh is hopeful that it comes to a close with a similarly sharp showing.

Janna Elshakaniri, Toronto Varsity Blues | The senior for Toronto is no stranger to success on the banner season stage. A silver medalist her last time out in the individual sabre, the Regina, Sask. native was able to top the OUA field the year prior and is undoubtedly looking to reclaim her top spot this weekend.

Ismaris Escano, Brock Badgers | The Burlington, Ont. senior headlines the Brock sabre team, who claimed bronze a year ago. The sabre captain is ready to lead her squad on the piste once again this year, and is excited to push for the podium once again with a fresh-faced team surrounding her.

Tia Gayowsky, Queen’s Gaels | A key piece of the Queen’s sabre contingent, Gayowsky is going into the OUA finale on the heels of an individual bronze at the Queen’s Open and team gold at the Carleton Invitational a few weeks ago. Individually, the Hamilton, Ont. fencer finished just off the podium at the 2024 championship (fourth) and is looking to improve on that result for the host squad.

Kate Jordan, McMaster Marauders | With two OUA Championship outings under her belt, Jordan is looking to continue her climb up the rankings at banner season number three. After a top-16 finish in her debut and a top-10 finish a year ago, the life sciences major from Toronto, Ont. will hope the upward trajectory continues for her in Kingston.

Sydney Lutz, Trent Excalibur | Lutz, a third-year fencer from Calgary, Alta., is eager to improve on her result from last year’s OUA Championship. A top-eight result therein, along with her podium momentum from this year’s events, has Lutz looking poised to rise the ranks in Kingston this weekend.

Tara Shahzadeh, Western Mustangs | A past bronze medalist on the provincial piste as part of the Western epee team relay in 2023, as well as a third-place finisher at the Carleton Invitational, Shahzadeh is looking to add to her medal haul at the upcoming OUA Championship.

Elizabeth Upton, Western Mustangs | An all-star in foil a year ago, Upton was a key part of Western’s championship-winning performance in 2024. The second-year psychology student also earned gold at the Hugh Munby Open in 2024. Backed by plenty of success on the piste, therefore, Upton will be counted on to deliver another top performance for the London squad this weekend.

Catherine Wu, Toronto Varsity Blues | A third-year champion from Richmond Hill, Ont., Wu’s OUA Championship track record is similar to that of her teammates. The foil specialist scored individual gold for the Varsity Blues in 2023 before earning a silver medal in 2024. A step back up the podium for Wu would go a long way toward Toronto reclaiming their overall championship title as well.

Ava Zheng, Carleton Ravens | A decorated fencer for the Ravens, Zheng returns for her third OUA Championship to lead the Carleton epee contingent. Winner of individual silver and a bronze in the team relay a year ago, Zheng was also the top performer in the epee in her debut outing in 2023. With more podium results in their sights, the Vaughan, Ont. product will be turned to once again to lead her Ravens on the piste.

BURNING QUESTIONS

  1. After topping the provincial field in 2024, can the talented Mustangs squad string together another stretch of individual and team relay success to claim back-to-back titles?
  2. With a similar team in tow compared to last year, can the Carleton Ravens soar to secure similar individual and team medals?
  3. After losing several fencers to graduation, can the 10 new members to the RMC Paladins contingent rack up personal best results among the conference’s best?
  4. After taking home silver in 2024 following a string of five straight banners, can the Varsity Blues start a new streak of podium-topping performances?
  5. With several Warriors competing in their final OUA Championship, and an added focus on physical training this past offseason, will they be able to make their final bouts especially memorable?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“The women’s epee team has worked hard this year and is stronger than last year; however the competition, especially at University of Toronto, also got a bit stiffer so the girls will have to really work to come out on top.” – Kyle Girard, Head Coach, Carleton Ravens

“This year, we’ve welcomed some incredible new athletes to our team and will be bringing back some fantastic returning fencers too. We’ve all been working hard throughout the season and have made many amazing improvements. Our team is super excited to showcase our progress at the upcoming OUA Championship at Queen’s University.” – Aurora Boone & Kate Jordan, Student-Athletes, McMaster Marauders

“Queen’s is thrilled to be hosting the OUA Women’s Fencing Championship this year. Our team has a mix of experienced fencers and rookies who are excited for their first OUA experience. We’ve been training hard and building momentum all season and are looking to improve on last year’s result in the championship.” – Rodney Carter, Head Coach, Queen’s Gaels

“Last season’s second-place finish reminded us that the competitive landscape in OUA is always evolving. After five consecutive titles, it was a pivotal moment for our program. Western proved to be strong champions, and they’ll surely bring that same energy this season. But championships are decided on championship day, and our athletes understand what it takes to perform when it matters most. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to compete for the banner.” – Thomas Nguyen, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues

“I’m very excited for the upcoming OUA Championship. I’m eager to get back on the piste with my team because I know that we have put in the work in these 12 months to improve ourselves. After disappointment in the bronze medal match for the women’s foil team last year, we remain undaunted for this championship.” – Evangeline Dryburgh, Student-Athlete, Waterloo Warriors

“As a co-captain of our women’s foil team, I use my past fencing experience to teach and help us succeed, but I am also still growing as a fencer with every practice I attend. I am looking forward to competing with and cheering on my teammates, as well as seeing our dedication and hard work pay off.” – Western Mustangs