Milewski Brings Home Silver, Shamel Named MVF

Sunday, February 22

Durham, N.C.

8:00 A.M. EST

North Carolina

ACC Championships

Split Photo of Nicole Milewski and Youssef Shamel

February 22, 2026 | Fencing

Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. - Nicole Milewski brought home her second career Atlantic Coast Conference silver medal. Youssef Shamel was named the men's ACC Championships Most Valuable Fencer, giving Carolina its third straight MVF, and all three of them have been men's epee fencers. Shamel won the ACC Championship as an individual and had a great showing in the team event, posting a winning record against Stanford and Notre Dame while sweeping Duke.

On the weekend, Carolina brought home four medals, which is the most that the program has brought home in one championship since the ACC brought back fencing as a sponsored sport in 2015.

Women's Individual Recap
The entire women's epee team advanced to the direct elimination stage. Carolina had the most fencers from any school. The team also tied for the most fencers qualifying in any single weapon with four.

In the first round, Carolina's Kaitlyn Zanga and Nicole Milewski faced each other, with Milewski winning 15-12 to reach the semi-finals.

Also in the first round, Mia Smotritsky upset the number two fencer, Sedna Gandhi from Notre Dame, who was the 2024 ACC Champion. Smotritsky advanced to the semi-finals against teammate Milewski for a spot in the finals. Milewski won her bout by six points and earned a spot in the finals. She finished as the runner-up.

Women's Individual Results
Women's Epee
2. Nicole Milewski
4. Mia Smotritsky
7. Kaitlyn Zanga
8. Mariasole Capellua

Women's Foil
10. Katie McGillion-Moore
14. Fiona Lee
17. Lauren Yu
18. Sreehitha Gandluri

Women's Sabre
7. Samantha Maryash
8. Dagny Johnson
9. Ella Webb
18. Gabriella Alfarache

Men's Team Recap:
The men's team finished tied with Notre Dame for third, but the night was highlighted by the third straight MVF award for Carolina.

The men kicked off the team portion of the last day of the ACC Championships with a 15-12 victory over the Stanford Cardinal. Epee was instrumental in the win as the group won their portion 7-2, led by Boris Muga's perfect 3-0 record against the newest member school in the ACC.

For only the second time under Head Coach Matt Jednak, Carolina knocked off Notre Dame, who is the number one team in the country. Carolina jumped out to a 10-5 lead, and Notre Dame battled back to keep it close, but Carolina held onto the lead for the entire match. Men's foil was pivotal for the win as they went 6-3. Cristian Porras won 5-4 to clinch the victory over Dominic Joseph in dramatic fashion. Carolina won 15-12.

In their final two matches of the evening, Carolina lost to Boston College 17-10, then battled back late against eventual champions Duke but ultimately fell 16-11. Shamel was one of the bright spots, sweeping Duke as an individual.

Men's Individual Results
#3 Carolina def #5 Stanford 15-12
Sabre: 4-5
Foil: 4-5
Epee: 7-2

#3 Carolina def #1 Notre Dame 15-12
Sabre: 5-4
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 4-5

#2 Boston College def #3 Carolina 10-17
Sabre: 3-6
Foil: 5-4
Epee: 2-7

#4 Duke def #3 Carolina 11-16
Sabre: 3-6
Foil: 2-7
Epee: 6-3