Friday, October 2
Bethlehem, Pa.
11:45 a.m.
Ohio State
at
Paul Short Run
Buckeyes Named 2026-27 Fencing Captains
10/2/2026 1:48:00 PM | Fencing
Six selected as team leaders
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State fencing program has revealed its captains for the 2026-27 campaign. Natalia Botello and Catherine Popa are the women's captains, with Jakob Stange and Sami Boumedienne the men's captains. Maria Alexe will serve as captain for the sabre squad and Mitchell Huth will be the foil squad captain.Â
Botello, a senior from Mexico, won the first NCAA women's sabre title in program history last year, also capturing the conference and NCAA regional crowns. A two-time First Team All-American, she has earned first team all-conference and all-region honors twice. She claimed the CCFC individual titles each of the last two years.
Popa, a senior epeeiest from North Royalton, Ohio, has finished in the Top 20 at the conference championships. She has earned Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors twice
Alexe, from Bucharest, Romania, is a senior for the Buckeyes. She hs earned Top 10 finishes at NCAA Regionals and is a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten choice.Â
Stange, a native of Solingen, Germany, is a sophomore on the epee squad. He was a First Team All-CCFC and Second Team All-Region honoree last season. He was the silver medalist at the CCFC Championships and placed seventh at NCAA Regionals.
Boumedienne, a junior from Stockholm, Sweden, earned bronze in epee in last year's CCFC Championships in his first year fencing for the Buckeyes.
Huth, a senior and native of Raleigh, N.C., earned his bachelor's degree in operations management in the spring. A two-time silver medalist at the CCFC Championships and the 2026 NCAA Regionals, he was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree last year. He is an Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honoree.
The Buckeyes begin this season by hosting the OSU Open and Duals this weekend in French Field House. Admission and parking are free.
Â
Botello, a senior from Mexico, won the first NCAA women's sabre title in program history last year, also capturing the conference and NCAA regional crowns. A two-time First Team All-American, she has earned first team all-conference and all-region honors twice. She claimed the CCFC individual titles each of the last two years.
Popa, a senior epeeiest from North Royalton, Ohio, has finished in the Top 20 at the conference championships. She has earned Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors twice
Alexe, from Bucharest, Romania, is a senior for the Buckeyes. She hs earned Top 10 finishes at NCAA Regionals and is a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten choice.Â
Stange, a native of Solingen, Germany, is a sophomore on the epee squad. He was a First Team All-CCFC and Second Team All-Region honoree last season. He was the silver medalist at the CCFC Championships and placed seventh at NCAA Regionals.
Boumedienne, a junior from Stockholm, Sweden, earned bronze in epee in last year's CCFC Championships in his first year fencing for the Buckeyes.
Huth, a senior and native of Raleigh, N.C., earned his bachelor's degree in operations management in the spring. A two-time silver medalist at the CCFC Championships and the 2026 NCAA Regionals, he was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree last year. He is an Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honoree.
The Buckeyes begin this season by hosting the OSU Open and Duals this weekend in French Field House. Admission and parking are free.
Â
Players Mentioned
Sabre
/ Fencing
Sabre
/ Fencing
Epee
/ Fencing
Foil
/ Fencing
Epee
/ Fencing
Epee
/ Fencing No videos available.
