Overview
Duke fencing entered last season with a string of question marks hanging over its head. After over a decade of top-10 finishes, the program was passed to the hands of new head coach Omar Elgeziry. In combination with a relatively younger roster, there was no guarantee that the team would be able to adjust to the coaching changes and deliver championship-caliber results so quickly. One year later though, the Blue Devils are kicking off their 2024-25 season with a sense of sureness in their talent and tenacity that bodes well for a successful postseason run.
The team ended its 2023-2024 season with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, where senior Allen Marakov also took home a bronze medal in men’s epee. The Blue Devils fared similarly at the ACC Championships, with the women’s team placing second following a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame. While the team never stopped challenging its opponents throughout its regular and postseason performances, the Blue Devils occasionally struggled to close tight bouts under pressure. With another season under its belt, the team looks ready to execute on its experience and take the last step towards a conference title.
“We have the names and we have the strength to win a championship,” head coach Omar Elgeziry said.
The Duke fencing family also expanded over the offseason, welcoming two assistant coaches and a whopping 11 male freshmen fencers. Four-time Olympian Shaimaa Elgammal joins the program as an assistant foil coach, and new assistant epee coach Ahmed Abdallah brings a wealth of competitive experience in addition to an educational background in medicine. With an expanded coaching staff, the Blue Devils hope to make every men’s and women’s discipline competitive with the best teams in the county. This cohesiveness is integral to cultivating the supportive culture at the core of this Duke fencing team.
“One of our strengths is our team dynamic — we take pride in this. We take care of each other, and I think the team is very ready to compete and work together as a whole,” Elgeziry said. “We have the resources, we have the talent, and all we need to do is put in the work. If we continue to do that, that's going to be the key to our success — continue to work in this great institution and continue to trust in the process.”
The Blue Devils’ promising season starts this weekend with most of the team traveling to Philadelphia for the Temple Open. - Emily Wang
New fencer to watch:
In a pool of 11 freshman additions to the men’s team, epee squad member Ethan Boroditsky holds the potential to join senior Allen Marakov as a standout. The Summit, N.J., native ended his 2023-24 season with a spectacular win ratio of 83.3% across pool and direct elimination competitions. Some of the victories contributing to that statistic include placing fifth of 341 competitors at the November North American Cup and 22nd of 397 competitors at the Junior Olympics. - Marissa Cotte
Returning fencer to watch: Allen Marakov, Charlotte Koenig
Two key members of this year’s squad will be returning All-Americans: Marakov and Charlotte Koenig.
With a large batch of freshmen joining the team this year, Marakov looks to build upon an outstanding end to last season. The Basking Ridge, N.J., native earned bronze in the men's epee NCAA finals, marking his first time on the national championship stage. His performance was rewarded with an All-American nod last year, and he will look to lead the Blue Devils' young roster to success this season. He goes into the year as a favorite for the men’s epee.
On the women’s side, Koenig — a foil fencer — is another standout who looks to make a huge impact this year. She got off to a fast start to her college career, earning All-American honors for her ninth-place finish in the women’s foil NCAA finals and her gold medal in the Mid-Atlantic/South Regional. Despite having only one year of experience with the Blue Devils, Koenig is a rising star who will play a pivotal role in Duke’s success this season following the departure of last year’s senior foil Christina Ferrari. - Dean Harder
Most anticipated matchup: North Carolina, Nov. 2
In just a few weeks, the Blue Devils will face off with infamous rival North Carolina for the first time in a head-to-head meet at home. With most of this season’s schedule consisting of invitational-style tournaments, this match-up against the Tar Heels offers the team an opportunity to demonstrate its strength across all three disciplines: foil, epee and saber.
“The [North Carolina] match is going to be one of the matches that we're looking forward to, because obviously the rivalry between us and [them] is very important… We want to make sure to take care of business, especially because the event is at home,” Elgeziry said.
The energy in Card Gym next weekend will be no doubt electric, as Duke looks to take the win over the Tar Heels in yet another sport this year. - Wang
Best-case scenario:
The Duke fencing family is coming off of an incredible 2023-2024 season. If the Blue Devils are able to continue the momentum from that performance and carry it into this year, the team will be in a good position to build. On the men’s side, the largest variable is the vast quantity of newcomers — a consistently strong start to the season could ground their positions on the team and provide stability that will be crucial to their success. In contrast, the women’s team is working from a more stable foundation, with just four fresh faces on the team.
If the freshmen are quickly integrated into the team, the Duke fencers are destined for a great season. With the additional expertise and knowledge coming from new assistant coaches Elgammal and Abdallah combined with the talents of more-settled head coach Elgeziry, the team can look forward to the potential for even more NCAA Championship qualifiers and season successes. - Cotte
Worst-case scenario:
With an influx of freshmen this year a lot could go wrong. Inexperience can lead to struggles early on during critical moments, as adjusting to college-level athletics and a new environment is no easy task. This applies not only to players but also to head coach Omar Elgeziry, who is entering his second season at Duke.
“I think I'm still learning more about the university, about the system. I think we have the name, and we have the strength to win a championship,” Elegeziry said. “I'm still figuring out how I'm gonna excel and make the team grow.” - Harder
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