Once again Forge Fencing kicked off the fencing season with the 2025 Big Blue tournament, our 15th! The community celebrated the new season and competed for a chance to have the winner’s name added to the perpetual trophy. Historically, the "blues" honor North Carolina's NCAA teams: Duke and UNC – and the competition inside the Forge was no less fierce!
For 2025 Forge hosted Senior Mixed Open events and dedicated women's events for foil, epee, and saber. This year’s event was large with 122 fencers overall competing for the coveted Big Blue trophy plaque. This included competitors from all across North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio. There were Y12 Mixed events in foil and in saber, and the Division 3 (Rating "D" and under) saber event was held again this year. Medals for the top three finishers in each event (with a tie for 3rd) were awarded along with gift cards for the medalists, and a random draw gift card per event. The gift cards were much appreciated by everyone – many were displayed proudly along with the trophies and medals.
Senior Women’s Foil winner Meredith Powers feels the Big Blue excitement!
All the events provided serious competition. The Youth-12 Mixed Foil and Mixed Saber events brought the next generation. Senior Mixed Épée was the largest event with 37 fencers at a B2 rating. Congratulations to Daniel Jin on his win and to Forge fencer Andrew Davis on his bronze medal and new rating! Previous champions Leslie Marx and Lauren Dunseath battled it out for the Senior Women’s Epee title to the great excitement of the crowd. While Leslie earned this year’s plaque, everyone – including Lauren – is looking forward to a rematch. Tidewater fencer and coach Meredith Powers successfully defended her Senior Women’s Foil title and earned another plaque on that perpetual trophy. Forge teammates Cadel Henry (Div 3 Mixed Saber), Neila Huang (Senior Women’s Saber), and Bennett Crain (Senior Mixed Saber) earned the right to put their names on the Big Blue trophies – the first time for each in these categories, and hopefully not the last!
Y12 foil and saber fencers assemble!
Once again the Big Blue also was a training event, with four newer referees being observed by Head Referee Stephen Pashby (as always in a stylish suit), one younger armorer gained valuable experience under the patient eyes of national armorer Dennis Crumpler, and perhaps the youngest bout committee volunteers ever began their training. (Thank you to Forge offspring Cece and Holden for keeping the bout committee staff awake and amused!) Nine ratings were earned or increased at the Big Blue, including new ratings for Forge fencers Andrew Davis (C25), Ned Eyster (D25), Daisy Guo (E25), Cadel Henry (D25), and Colin Yeazel (E25).
Head Referee Stephen Pashby addresses the Senior Mixed Epeeists
The Big Blue 2025 was a busy weekend with great fencing – it was big. Congratulations to all the competitors!
Full results can be found on FencingTimeLive at this link. Check out our full photo album on the Forge Fencing Facebook page.
Youth-12 foil fencers showed their mettle
A special shout out to the following Forge fencers:
2025 BIG BLUE FORGE FINISHERS
Y-12 Mixed Saber
Lining (Joe) GuoBRONZE
Malcolm GoldsteinBRONZE
Y-12 Mixed Foil
Jacqueline HalleySILVER
Nabha SomanBRONZE
Althea ChangBRONZE
Senior Women's Foil
Indraa SomanBRONZE
Senior Women's Saber
Neila HuangGOLD
Yuexi (Daisy) GuoSILVER
Ava Ellis-FurlongBRONZE
Katya WilfretBRONZE
Senior Mixed Épée
Andrew DavisBRONZE
Senior Women's Épée
Lauren DunseathSILVER
Div III Mixed Saber
Cadel HenryGOLD
Colin YeazelSILVER
Yuexi (Daisy) GuoBRONZE
Senior Mixed Saber
Bennett CrainGOLD
Tristan ShimSILVER
Edison (Ned) EysterBRONZE
The Senior Women’s Saber event saw a strong Forge finish.
Teammate advice: Veteran epeeist Lauren Dunseath coaches Cadet epeeist Phoenix Roberts
Organizer and Forge Coach Chad Beaty as master of ceremonies.