Concord-Carlisle's boys pulled out a 14-13 nail-biter over Buckingham, Browne & Nichols to grab the Massachusetts state fencing crown Saturday at Cambridge Rindge & Latin, while Boston Latin's girls, the two-time defending champions, cruised to a 17-10 win over BB&N and left the host gym with the girls' trophy.
“The kids are just great ... it doesn’t matter who’s who, it doesn’t matter what weapon, it’s nothing but joy,” C-C coach Michael Marx said after the final, a result that delivered the Patriots their third state title in eight years. Marx is a five-time Olympian and a long-time local coach, and the day's seeded, three-weapon, direct-elimination format produced several razor-thin matches. The reporting and quotes are from The Boston Globe, while Marx’s competitive résumé is outlined by Marx Fencing Academy.
On the boys’ side, the final standings read Concord-Carlisle first, BB&N second, and Weston third; the girls’ bracket saw Boston Latin win, BB&N take second, and Dana Hall finish third. Eight boys and eight girls squads competed at the Cambridge meet, which produced close, tactical team bouts throughout the day, according to The Boston Globe.
National Center Lands in Stow, Raising the Sport’s Profile
Beyond the winners, Massachusetts is positioning itself as a new hub for U.S. fencing: USA Fencing has agreed to relocate its national performance center from Colorado Springs to a new complex in Stow, a project organizers say will include a National Performance Center and academy. The partnership with Masters Academy International is described as a multi-use $56 million redevelopment that will host national-team activities, clinics, and year-round programming, with opening expected in fall 2026, according to USA Fencing.
Local Programs Could Feel the Ripple Effects
Coaches and club directors at the meet said the combination of deeper high-school competition and expanding club infrastructure could give more Massachusetts fencers a pathway to college and national teams. Local academies and clubs already feed the state’s high-school programs, and the proximity of a national center, plus more clinics and camps, is likely to add training opportunities and exposure for younger athletes. Cambridge Rindge & Latin served as a central host site for Saturday’s event; the school’s contact and address are listed by Cambridge Public Schools.
With regional and club competition picking up steam in the weeks ahead, coaches said Saturday’s tight finals were a reminder that Massachusetts fencing is no longer niche; it is a fast-growing pipeline. Expect familiar rivals and a few new challengers to meet again as the season shifts toward nationals and the new Stow facility begins to come online.
