HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford College sophomore epeeist Eric Chen has been named the Men's Epee Division III Athlete of the Year, as announced by the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) on May 7. This honor comes in addition to being named a finalist for the overall Men's Epee Collegiate Athlete of the Year, which recognizes the top epee fencer across all three NCAA divisions. Finalists were selected from nominations submitted by member institutions nationwide.
Chen is the first student-athlete in Haverford history to receive the Men's Epee Division III Athlete of the Year accolade. His selection caps off a remarkable season in which he excelled both athletically and academically. Competing in men's epee at the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships in State College, Pennsylvania, Chen placed 22nd overall.
He secured six bout victories during round-robin competition at Penn State, facing a highly competitive field of more than 140 collegiate fencers from all three NCAA divisions. He was named the championships' Elite 90 winner, becoming the first-ever Haverford student-athlete to earn this prestigious honor. The Elite 90 award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled both academically and athletically. This distinction is awarded to the competitor with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships, underscoring a commitment to excellence in both the classroom and competition.
Earlier this year, Chen was named to the USFCA All-Mid-Atlantic/South Region First Team and was selected as a Division III All-Region honoree. He made history for Haverford as the only Division III fencer to qualify for the national championships in men's epee. A two-time Division III All-America selection, Chen continues to set a high standard for success within the program.
Representing men's and women's programs, the USFCA presents overall National Collegiate awards and Division III awards. A nationwide vote of USFCA member fencing programs determined all awards.