175 Years of Navy Fencing
POSTED ON: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 8:28 AM by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah M. Thielen
For 175 years, the art of fencing has been a part of the United States Naval Academy’s (USNA) mission to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically. From the early days of sword masters instructing midshipmen in the “Art of Defense,” to modern competition on the national stage.
“It feels amazing to be a part of history in this way,” said USNA Fencing President Midshipman 1st Class (senior) Gabriel Tisdale, an aerospace engineering major. “Even though I only have four years of that legacy, I’m proud to see the program on an upward trajectory.”
Formal instruction in fencing at the Naval Academy dates back to 1850, when Professor Edward Seager first introduced the sport as a core element of midshipmen physical training. By 1865, Belgian-born Antoine Joseph Corbesier was appointed Sword Master, a position he held for nearly half a century. It’s documented that he was deeply respected by generations of midshipmen, so much so that Congress commissioned him a 1st Lt. in the Marine Corps in recognition of his service.
Upon his death in 1915, the entire Brigade of Midshipmen joined local citizens and Academy officials to honor him, and a U.S. Navy destroyer was later named in his memory.
“In the 18th and 19th centuries, the sword served as a personal sidearm for military officers, and cutlasses were used for boarding ships or repelling boarders, so it's not surprising that instruction in swordsmanship was envisioned for the Naval Academy curriculum, dating back to the birth of our nation,” said Emil Petruncio, the Navy Fencing head coach and retired U.S. Navy Capt.
As intercollegiate athletics grew in the early 20th century, Navy fencing quickly emerged as a powerhouse. USNA joined the Intercollegiate Fencing Association (IFA) in 1896, America’s oldest collegiate fencing organization, and went on to capture numerous IFA team and individual titles across foil, epee, and saber.
From 1924 to 1964, Navy claimed eight IFA three-weapon team championships and more than 40 single-weapon team titles. In 1959, Navy achieved a historic feat – sweeping first place in all three weapons to win the NCAA Team Championship, a distinction shared by only two other programs in NCAA history (New York University and Columbia University).
Throughout its varsity era, Navy fencing produced 57 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and several Olympians including five bronze medalists.
“After the varsity program was retired in 1993, fencing resumed as an Extracurricular Activity in 2002 and then as a club team in 2012,” said Petruncio. “Navy has won the Baltimore-Washington Collegiate Fencing Conference nine times, and our women's team won the U.S. Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs (USACFC) National Championship in 2014.”
Today, Navy fencers participate in regional and national intercollegiate epee, foil, and saber competitions, as well as USA Fencing open tournaments. Navy’s first competition of the season, the Chaos Open, resulted in three medals for the team.
“It’s fun to see everyone count us out,” said Tisdale. “We have individuals skilled enough to send to Division One meets, and they’re making names for themselves. I’d like to see us get back to that D-1 level, and that is where I see us going.”
The midshipmen on the team may compete in different areas, but they’re all on the same path towards becoming a Navy or Marine Corps officer. Tisdale describes how many of the foundational pieces of fencing directly tie into his and his teammates' futures.
“So much of the sport is rhythm. You have to be technical and ready to execute. Knowing what you’re doing, how you’re going to do it, when, where and why - that’s what you can hope to bring as an officer.
At the end of the day, our sport was originally sword fighting. There is so much honor in what we do. Every single match starts with a salute, both to our opponent and to the referee as well. The sport has shown me the importance of being able to maintain your composure and be a person of mutual respect even when you’re about to play a combat sport.”
Category: Athletics, General Interest, Midshipman