Duke Fencing Dominates at Philadelphia Invitational with 15-2 Weekend Showing
PHILADELPHIA - When you talk about setting a tone early in the season, Duke fencing just dropped the mic. The Blue Devils rolled into the Philadelphia Invitational and walked out with a combined 15-2 record across their men’s and women’s squads - a statement performance from a program that’s clearly locked in.
The fifth-ranked Duke women’s team set the pace, going 8-1 over two days, while the No. 8 men’s squad wasn’t far behind with a 7-1 mark. From top-tier team wins to standout individual performances, this was the kind of weekend that builds momentum - and maybe even raises expectations.
Women’s Team: Dominant, Disciplined, and Deep
Let’s start with the women. Saturday was a clean sweep - six matches, six wins, and not just wins, but emphatic ones.
Duke took down UC San Diego (18-9), NYU (19-8), Haverford (25-2), No. 10 Penn State (21-6), NJIT (25-2), and Lafayette (27-0).
That’s not just winning - that’s asserting control from the first bout to the last.
Sunday brought two more victories over Wagner (23-4) and FDU (25-2), before the Blue Devils ran into a tough No. 9 Yale squad. That one ended in a narrow 15-12 loss - a battle that could’ve gone either way, and one that will no doubt serve as fuel moving forward.
The depth on this women’s team is no joke. Ten different fencers posted double-digit wins over the weekend.
Charlotte Koenig led the charge in foil with 19 wins, while Kalina Atanasova (sabre) and Daniella Barg (épée) each racked up 16. Meera Desai and Yeva Mazur weren’t far behind with 15 and 14 wins, respectively - a reminder that this team isn’t just top-heavy, it’s stacked across the board.
Men’s Team: Grit and Precision
The men’s squad showed why they’re ranked inside the top 10, opening the Invitational with five straight wins on Saturday - and three of those came against ranked opponents. Duke edged out No.
15 UC San Diego in a nail-biter, 14-13, then followed that with convincing wins over No. 13 NYU (18-9), Haverford (21-6), No.
9 Penn State (18-9), and Lafayette (22-5).
Sunday saw the Blue Devils take care of Wagner (22-5) and NJIT (17-10), before suffering their only loss of the weekend to No. 10 Yale, 17-10. Still, a 7-1 finish with four wins over ranked teams is the kind of resume-builder that matters come postseason seeding time.
And then there’s Abdelrahman Tolba. The foil fencer didn’t just have a good weekend - he went a perfect 17-0.
That’s elite-level consistency. Joseph Glasson (16 wins) and Aidan Lee (13) added plenty of firepower in foil, while sabres and Zachary Shoman each chipped in with 11 wins apiece.
The Bigger Picture
Yes, the Yale losses sting - but they also offer something valuable: a measuring stick. These are the kinds of matchups that sharpen a team’s edge before the postseason grind begins. And if you’re Duke, you’ve got to feel good about where you are right now.
Head coach Omar Elgeziry summed it up best: “The Yale loss was disappointing but offered valuable lessons. I'm proud of the team, especially our freshmen, who competed at a high level.
Our eyes are on the upcoming weekend to take on more teams at PSU. Go Duke!”
This is a program that’s not just competing - it’s contending. And if this weekend was any indication, Duke fencing is gearing up for something special.