Brennan Ford, Sports Editor
Men’s fencing was announced as Denison’s 28th varsity sport on Jan. 6, and will make the official transition from the club to varsity level in the 2026-27 season.
For Coach Peter Grandbois, men’s fencing becoming a varsity sport was something he’d always hoped for. Though in recent years, he began losing some of that hope.
“It just happened. Yes, I have been expecting it, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was finally happening.”
Grandbois is also the coach of the women’s team, which already is a varsity sport.
His duties extend beyond being a coach as he is also a professor in the English department.
“It is going to be hard; I am teaching less as a result,” Grandbois said. “It’s more than double the recruiting efforts and double the individual lessons.”
The time commitment to both teams nearly doubles as well, as the team will go from three practices a week to five. Athletes will also be expected to attend two to three strength and conditioning sessions each week.
Additionally, fencing requires individuals to partake in private lessons with the coach to improve their fine motor skills.
As a varsity sport, the program will be limited to 18 athletes. However, current club members were offered the opportunity to join the varsity team.
“I would say 90% of our club has said they want to do varsity,” Grandbois said. “We understand that it’s a bigger commitment than they signed on for, but they’ve already got a spot if they want it. It is a tough transition, but we’re working with everyone to make sure that they’re ready.”
While Grandbois manages the administrative shift, student leaders like club president Leif Gajkowski ’26 are focused on maintaining the existing culture of the team.
Gajkowski competed throughout his youth, but stopped once he reached middle school. When he heard that Denison had a fencing club, he debated whether or not he wanted to return to the sport. However, after attending a few practices, Gajkowski grew fond of the program’s environment.
“There was something nice about the club dynamic where it’s just a bunch of people who want to be there, who want to work, and who like fencing,” Gajkowski said.
Despite being a club team, men’s fencing competes at an elite level against various Division I teams like Ohio State, Northwestern, and many Ivy League schools. The transition to a varsity sport is less about a change in competitiveness and more about a shift in the team’s dynamic.
“We don’t have the parkas, we don’t have the resources, but you can definitely feel a total shift within the team and the way people are approaching fencing,” Gajkowski said. “There’s some more intensity.”
As a senior, Gajkowski won’t experience fencing for the varsity team. But he hopes to encourage his younger teammates to maintain the team dynamic that initially drew him back to the sport.
“Denison’s biggest strength has been its culture and the attitude that the fencers bring,” Gajkowski said. “I think it’s really exciting to have a new varsity team bring that same culture and energy.”
While the transition represents an expansion for Denison’s athletics, the fencers view the move as validating the competitive standard they have already established.
“We get this great opportunity next year,” Gajkowski said. “We’re gonna take advantage of it, and we’re gonna come out swinging in our first year.”
Photo Credit: Mars Harmon/The Denisonian
The Denison women’s fencing team hosted the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Championship for both Men’s and Women’s fencing from Feb. 21-22, finishing in third place overall out of the seven teams who competed. Pictured left is a Denison student in a bout with an Ohio State student, and pictured right is Grace Lukens ‘26 receiving advice from Head Coach Peter Grandbois