Duke Fencing Gears Up for Philadelphia Invitational After Strong Midseason Statement
DURHAM, N.C. - After making some serious noise at the Elite Invitational, Duke fencing is back on the strip this weekend, ready to test its mettle at the Philadelphia Invitational. Hosted by Penn and set inside Hutchinson Gymnasium, the two-day meet (Jan. 17-18) marks the start of the back half of the Blue Devils’ 2025-26 campaign - and it’s shaping up to be a critical stretch.
A Deep Dive into the Weekend Slate
Both Duke squads are heading into a gauntlet of competition. The men will face a mix of top-tier Division I and strong Division III programs, including No.
2 UC San Diego and No. 7 Penn State on Saturday, followed by matchups against Wagner, Yale, and NJIT on Sunday.
The women’s team has an equally challenging path, taking on No. 5 NYU, No.
10 Haverford, and perennial power Penn State on Day 1, before squaring off with No. 14 Wagner, No.
18 Yale, and No. 11 FDU to close out the weekend.
The action begins at 8:30 a.m. both days, and with this kind of lineup, there’s no shortage of high-stakes bouts on the horizon.
Who’s Suiting Up for the Blue Devils
On the men’s side, Duke brings a well-rounded roster across all three weapons. In epee, Kozmo Rhyu, Peyton Young, and Ethan Boroditsky lead the charge, with Giulio Pech and Kyran Lin rounding out the squad.
The foil group features Dayaal Singh, Joseph Glasson, Owen Li, Abdelrahman Tolba, and Aidan Lee - a mix of experience and young talent. In saber, Samir Travers, Lev Ermakov, Justin Glozman, Zachary Showman, and Ethan Dennis will look to build on a solid start to the season.
The women’s lineup is just as deep. The epee team of Yeva Mazur, Vanessa Lin, Eiry Du, Daniella Barg, and Meera Desai will be key in matchups against some of the nation’s top squads.
In foil, Rachel Koo, Skylar Knight, Sophia Shen, Zizi Newhard, and Abigail Lau bring a strong combination of technique and consistency. The saber unit - Kunling Tong, Hava Stone, Natalie Olsen, Victoria Gorman, and Kalina Atanasova - will be a group to watch, especially in Sunday’s heavyweight matchups.
Climbing the Rankings
Both Duke teams enter the weekend firmly inside the top 25 of the latest USFCA national poll. The women are currently ranked No. 6, while the men check in at No. 22 - a testament to their depth, balance, and recent momentum.
Building Off a Statement Performance
The last time Duke hit the strip, they didn’t just compete - they made a statement. At the Elite Invitational in Columbus, both squads walked away with two wins apiece, including a sweep of host Ohio State. That alone would’ve been impressive, but the Blue Devils weren’t done.
The women, ranked No. 8 at the time, also knocked off No. 7 Penn in a tightly contested matchup.
Meanwhile, the ninth-ranked men engineered a thrilling comeback to take down No. 3 Harvard - a signature win that could carry weight deep into the season.
Individually, Zizi Newhard (foil) led the women with eight victories, while Peyton Young (epee) racked up nine wins for the men. Both fencers will be key again this weekend as Duke looks to keep the momentum rolling.
What’s Next?
After wrapping up in Philly, the Blue Devils won’t have to wait long before their next test. They’ll head back to Pennsylvania - this time to University Park - for the Penn State Invitational on Jan.
- That meet, hosted at the Mary B.
White Building, will be another chance for Duke to sharpen its edge against elite competition.
But first, it’s all eyes on the Philadelphia Invitational. With a packed schedule, ranked opponents, and a confident Duke squad looking to keep climbing, this weekend promises to deliver plenty of action - and possibly a few more statement wins.