DETROIT, Mich. - Haverford sophomore epeeist Eric Chen (Ellicott City, Md.) joined junior foilist Michael Pyo (Morristown, N.J) and first-year foilist Dean Myers (San Francisco, Calif.) in earning Division III All-America recognition from the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA), the organization announced in a release on Wednesday.
Chen was tabbed a Division III epee First Team All-American while Myers earned a second-team nod in foil, and Pyo was an honorable mention for foil. Chen and Pyo both repeat recognition on the All-America teams from a season ago.
The USFCA All-America awards, which first were handed out in 2020, are determined by an evaluation of their regular season performance and postseason performance, including both NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships.
In addition, the USFCA recognizes the top Division III fencers in the country with Division III All-American awards. The recipients of these awards are determined by an evaluation of their regular season performance and postseason performance, including both NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships.
Competing in men's epee in the championships at Penn State, Chen placed 22nd overall, securing six bout victories in round-robin competition over the two-day event. Earlier this month, he was also named a first-team USFCA All-Mid-Atlantic/South Region and Division III All-Region selection in addition to a prestigious academic honor - The Elite 90 award, which recognizees the competitor with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Chen was the only Division III fencer to qualify for the national championships in men's epee—a significant milestone for both himself and the Haverford fencing program. His fourth-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on March 8 set a new program benchmark, marking the highest regional finish for a Haverford fencer in any weapon and the program's first regional final appearance since 2017.
In foil, Myers (16th) and Pyo (18th) delivered strong performances at the NCAA regional, each reaching the third round before falling just short of the regional final. The duo also stood out at the MACFA Championships, helping lead the foil squad to its second consecutive MACFA silver medal as a weapon squad.