2020-21 Fencing Roster

Ariel Simmons 2018-19 Fencing Roster

Epee


Height 6-1
Class Senior
Hometown Bellaire, TX
High School Carnegie Vanguard
Ariel Simmons - Fencing - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Bio

HONORS AND AWARDS:

  • 2017, 2018 NCAA Team Championship
  • 2017, 2018 NCAA Championships Men’s Epee Third Place
  • 2019 NCAA Championships Men’s Epee 11th Place
  • 2017, 2018 First Team All-American
  • 2019 Third Team All-American
  • 2017 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Second Place
  • 2018 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Fourth Place
  • 2019 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Fifth Place
  • 2017 ACC Men’s Epee Champion
  • 2018 ACC Men’s Epee Runner-Up
  • 2017 ACC Championships Men’s Most Valuable Fencer
  • 2017 ACC Men’s Fencer of the Year for Epee
  • 2017 Monogram Club MVP
  • 2017 Notre Dame Men’s Epee MVP
  • 2019 Notre Dame Men’s Epee Co-MVP
  • 2018, 2019 Lee Kiefer/Gerek Meinhardt Award 
  • 2017 All-ACC Academic Team

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