University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
October NAC
Freshman Duo Shines At October NAC Through Two Days
October 4, 2025 | Fencing
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - The first two days of the October North American Cup was highlighted by two freshmen, Dagny Johnson and Vasko Atanassov.
Atanassov opened up the preseason competition on Friday night with an impressive performance. The freshman opened up pool play in the juniors men's sabre division with a 6-0 start earning the fifth seed heading into direct elimination. The Beverton, Ore. native earned a BYE and won five straight bouts before ultimately finishing tied for third out of 296 fencers.
Peter Bruk entered the elimination portion of the division 1Â men's foil, a field that had multiple Olympians, as the 101st seed. In the second round, he took down the 28th and 92nd-seeded fencers. Bruk scored three points against five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Gerek Meinhardt.
For the second day in a row, a freshman saberist has produced a fantastic debut result. Dagny Johnson had a solid pool round, going 4-1, which earned her the 36th overall seed and a BYE. in division 1 women's sabre. Johnson won two bouts in the direct elimination portion, including upsetting the No. 29-seeded fencer, as she finished 26th out of 213 competitors. Tar Heel alumna Sophia Kovacs, a member of last year's squad, finished 35th.
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Friday's Results
Division 1 Men's Foil
31. Peter Bruk
106. Aiden Song
156. Christian Porras
196. Connor Williams
201. Logan Gatza
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 Junior Men's Sabre
T3. Vasko Atanassov
Division 1 Women's EpeeÂ
67. Elizabeth Zigalo
88. Kaitlyn Zanga
T-96. Nicole Milewski
120. Mia Smotritsky
Saturday's Results
Division 1 Men's Epee
108. Brayden GyureÂ
206. Shekar Jayendra
261. Logan GatzaÂ
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Division 1 Women's SabreÂ
26. Dagny JohnsonÂ
35. Sophia Kovacs (Alumni)
151. Gabriella Alfarache
Players Mentioned
