Banner Season: Toronto Varsity Blues capture 2026 OUA Women’s Fencing Championship
Peterborough, Ont. (C/O Trent Excalibur) - The Toronto Varsity Blues captured the 2026 OUA Women's Fencing Championship, claiming the Kay Aoyama Trophy after a dominant weekend of competition.
Toronto finished first overall with 385 points, earning the team's 17th championship in program history. The Western Mustangs finished in second place (320 points) and the Queen's Gaels in third (177 points).
The Varsity Blues' victory was highlighted by strong performances across all three weapons, as they secured multiple individual and team relay medals over the two-day championship.
Alison Wang of the Queen's Gaels was awarded the Dave O'Donnell Trophy, presented annually to the women's fencer who demonstrates exceptional skill, style, and sportswomanship, as voted by OUA coaches and officials.
Courtney McDonnell of the Trent Excalibur was named OUA Women's Fencing Coach of the Year.
Day one of the championship featured individual competition in foil, épée, and sabre. In women's foil, Toronto's Catherine Wu faced Queen's Alison Wang in the gold medal bout, a rematch of last season's bronze medal contest. Wu emerged victorious, earning gold with a 15–12 win. TMU's Ericka Dominguez captured bronze after defeating Western's Robin Wang 15–6.
Western fencers continued their success in the individual épée event, as Judy Li defeated Toronto's Valerie Qi 15–14 to claim gold. Jenny Li added another medal for the Mustangs, securing bronze with a 15–9 victory over Toronto's Lillia Mucsi.
The day concluded with the women's sabre competition, where Tatiana Gayowsky of Queen's captured gold following a 15–13 win over Toronto's Janna Elshakankiri. RMC's Victoria Zhang earned bronze, defeating Toronto's Astrid Chandler 15–12.
On Sunday, the Toronto Varsity Blues team of Zhe (Tian Tian) Dong, Catherine Wu, Zoey Xie, and Lea Zizzari claimed gold in women's foil team relay after a 45–41 victory over the Western Mustangs. The Waterloo Warriors captured bronze with a 45–29 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
In the épée team relay, Toronto secured another gold medal as Angel Liu, Lilla Mucsi, Valerie Qi, and Hin Sang Annabelle Wong defeated Western 45–35. The Carleton Ravens earned bronze with a 45–22 victory over TMU.
The weekend concluded with the women's sabre team relay. Toronto's Astrid Chandler, Janna Elshakankiri, Salma Elshakankiri, and Wing Lam (Valerie) Ng captured gold after defeating Western 45–39. The Queen's Gaels secured bronze with a 45–38 win over the RMC Paladins.
Major Award Winners
Dave O'Donnell Trophy – Alison Wang, Queen's Gaels
Coach of the Year – Courtney McDonnell, Trent Excalibur
Team Relay OUA All-Stars
Lilla Mucsi - Toronto Varsity Blues
Zoey Xie - Toronto Varsity Blues
Zoe Wu (Ngo) - Western Mustangs
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - All individual medalists are OUA all-stars
Foil Individual
Gold (Maitre Ken Wood Trophy): Catherine Wu, Toronto Varsity Blues
Silver: Alison Wang, Queen's Gaels
Bronze: Erika Dominguez, TMU Bold
Épée Individual
Gold (Dr. Al English Trophy): Judy Li, Western Mustangs
Silver: Valerie Qi, Toronto Varsity Blues
Bronze: Jenny Li, Western Mustangs
Sabre Individual
Gold (Fred Wach Trophy): Tatiana Gayowsky, Queen's Gaels
Silver: Janna Elshakankiri, Toronto Varsity Blues
Bronze: Victoria Zhang, RMC Paladins
TEAM RELAY RESULTS
Foil Team Relay
Gold: Toronto Varsity Blues (Zhe (Tian Tian) Dong, Catherine Wu, Zoey Xie, Lea Zizzari)
Silver: Western Mustangs (Ellis Fong, Rosie Kim, Elizabeth Upton, Robin Wang)
Bronze: Waterloo Warriors (Vivian Dai, Ellie Davies, Evangeline Dryburgh, Grace He, Avery Hiebert)
Épée Team Relay
Gold: Toronto Varsity Blues (Angel Liu, Lilla Mucsi, Valerie Qi, Hin Sang Annabelle Wong)
Silver: Western Mustangs (Elizabeth Fan, Jenny Li, Judy Li, Allyson Wu)
Bronze: Carleton Ravens (Moseley Harvey-McKean, Hope Johnson, Melissa Rand, Ava Zheng)
Sabre Team Relay
Gold: Toronto Varsity Blues (Astrid Chandler, Janna Elshakankiri, Salma Elshakankiri, Wing Lam (Valerie) Ng))
Silver: Western Mustangs (Saungeun (Elizabeth) Jeon, Jasnoor Kalsi, Louisa Lewicki, Zoe Wu (Ngo))
Bronze: Queen's Gaels (Joyce Fox, Tatiana Gayowsky, Florella Peng, Quintyn Zuber)