Duke Fencing's Strong Showing at ACC Championships
In the heart of Durham, North Carolina, the Duke fencing team wrapped up an exciting day one at the ACC Fencing Championships, showcasing both individual and team talents at the iconic Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Duke women's team, ranked eighth nationally, made waves with a runner-up finish. They faced off against top-seeded Notre Dame in a much-anticipated final. Despite their best efforts, the Blue Devils fell short as the Fighting Irish clinched the title with an 18-9 victory.
Men’s Individual Highlights:
The day kicked off with the Duke men's individual events. Sophomores Justin Glozman (sabre), Isaac Lief (epee), and Giulio Pech (epee) led the charge, each advancing to the quarterfinals after strong performances in pool play.
Glozman, hailing from Villanova, Pennsylvania, dominated his sabre bouts, going undefeated in the round robin. As the top seed, he faced a nail-biting quarterfinal against North Carolina's Elden Wood, narrowly losing 15-14.
In epee, Lief and Pech showed grit, moving into the knockout rounds as the No. 4 and No. 7 seeds. However, both were edged out in the quarterfinals.
Women’s Team Performance:
The Duke women impressed early, notching victories over Stanford (18-9) and Boston College (19-8). Their triumph over arch-rival North Carolina, with a 15-12 score, set the stage for the championship clash.
The foil squad, led by juniors Sophia Shen (9-0), Charlotte Koenig (7-0), and senior Rachel Koo (7-2), was particularly formidable, outscoring opponents 24-3 in the early matches.
In the championship face-off, freshman Meera Desai (epee) kicked things off with a win against Notre Dame's Zoe Kim. However, the Irish quickly took control, securing 14 of the next 16 points to seal their 18-9 victory.
Duke Men: Individual Results (Pool Play Records)
- Epee: Ethan Dennis (1-4), Isaac Lief (4-1), Giulio Pech (3-2), Kozmo Rhyu (2-3) Lief and Pech both reached the quarterfinals.
- Foil: Laith Elkousy (2-3), Aidan Lee (1-3)
- Sabre: Justin Glozman (6-0), William Holz (2-3), Samir Travers (2-3) Glozman reached the quarterfinals as the No. 1 seed.
Duke Women: Team Results
- Defeated Stanford 18-9 (E: 7-2, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 4-5)
- Defeated Boston College 19-8 (E: 5-4, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 5-4)
- Defeated North Carolina 15-12 (E: 1-8, Foil: 8-1, Sabre: 6-3)
- Lost to Notre Dame 18-9 (E: 4-5, Foil: 7-2, Sabre: 7-2)
Coach’s Corner:
Duke head coach Omar Elgeziry reflected on the day, "I'm proud of how we competed today. The results may not fully reflect our level, but the fight and intensity were there.
We came here to win a championship, but University of Notre Dame was stronger this time. We'll learn from it, and come back better.
Go Duke!"
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