2020-21 Fencing Roster

Ariel Simmons 2018-19 Fencing Roster

Height 6-1

Class Senior

Hometown Bellaire, TX

High School Carnegie Vanguard

Bio

HONORS AND AWARDS:

AS A JUNIOR:

Wrapped the season as a Third Team All-American, finishing 11th at the NCAA Championships in men’s epee
Marked his third straight All-American season
Went 23-13 during dual competition
Finished fifth at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships to qualify for the national meet.
Went 12-11 at NCAAs to help the Irish to a third-place finish
One of two winners of the Lee Kiefer/Gerek Meinhardt Award, “given to the fencer who gives their time selflessly and humbly in training, as judged by their teammates and coaches. This recipient goes above and beyond expectations, helping teammates prepare for tournaments while pursuing their own passion for the sport”
Earned a monogram

AS A SOPHOMORE:

Finished the season with a 21-21 record through four contests
Went 7-5 at the St. John’s Invitational
Concluded the year with a 6-3 record during team competition at the ACC Championships
Finished as conference runner-up in men’s epee during individual competition
Copped First-Team All-America honors for the second straight year, claiming bronze at the NCAA Championships
Picked up 17 wins at NCAAs to help the Irish to their second straight national title

AS A FRESHMAN:

Turned in an exceptional rookie campaign for the Irish, highlighted by a First Team All-American performance at the NCAA Championships, finishing tied for third in men’s epee
Went 15-8 with a +6 indicator to qualify for the NCAA men’s epee semifinals
Fell to eventual champion Cooper Schumacher (St. John’s) 15-10 in the NCAA semifinal
Went 9-2 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship to capture second place
Defeated teammate Dylan French 15-9 to capture first career ACC title
Went 8-1 during team competition at the ACC Championships to help the Irish to their third straight ACC title
Honored as the Most Valuable Fencer of the ACC Championships
Went 39-23 in dual meets during the season
Named the ACC Men’s Fencer of the Year for Epee
Named the Monogram Club MVP
Named ND’s men’s epee MVP
Selected to the All-ACC Academic Team
Earned a monogram

PREP AND PERSONAL:

Joins the Irish men’s epee squad after a gap year following his high school graduation in 2014
Amassed an impressive national and international resume during the 2014-15 season
Was the 2013 Cadet World Champion and 2013 Junior National Champion
Helped the U.S. claim the epee championship at the 2015 Junior Pan-American Games
Placed in the top three at two Division I NAC events, including a gold medal at the 2014 December NAC
Claimed gold at the 2015 January Junior NAC
Finished the 2014-15 season ranked No. 1 in the country as both a cadet and junior and No. 4 in the senior division
Majoring in Business Analytics and Chinese