Abdelrahman Tolba Shines in Duke Debut, Named ACC Men's Fencer of the Week
Duke fencing just got a serious boost.
Freshman Abdelrahman Tolba wasted no time making his presence felt in Durham, earning ACC Men's Fencer of the Week honors after a flawless performance at the Philadelphia Invitational. In what was his first collegiate competition, the Cairo native didn’t just meet expectations-he blew right past them.
Tolba went a perfect 17-0 in his individual foil bouts, anchoring a dominant showing by Duke’s foil squad, which posted a combined 60-12 record over the weekend. That kind of consistency and poise is rare, especially from a freshman stepping onto the collegiate stage for the first time. But Tolba fenced like a veteran, showing the kind of control, timing, and tactical awareness that separates elite fencers from the rest.
And it wasn’t just individual brilliance-his performance helped power the No. 8 Blue Devils to a 7-1 overall team record at the invitational.
That run included convincing wins over three ranked programs: No. 9 Penn State (18-9), No.
13 NYU (18-9), and No. 15 UC San Diego (14-13).
Each of those matchups tested Duke’s depth and resilience, and Tolba’s undefeated streak in foil played a big role in swinging momentum in the Blue Devils’ favor.
This kind of debut doesn’t just earn accolades-it sets a tone. For a Duke team with high expectations this season, Tolba’s emergence adds serious firepower to an already talented roster. If his opening act is any indication, Duke’s foil squad could be a force to reckon with as the season unfolds.
Next up, the Blue Devils head to University Park, Pennsylvania, for the Penn State Invitational on January 25. The competition will be held at the Mary B. White Building, where Duke will look to keep the momentum rolling.
One weekend in, and Abdelrahman Tolba is already making headlines. If you're following Duke fencing this season, keep an eye on the freshman from Cairo-he’s just getting started.