Duke fencing clashed with rival North Carolina in an intense NCAA opener at Card Gym Sunday in Durham. The competition marked a first for both programs, facing off for the first time ever in head-to-head format.
The Duke men’s fencing team emerged victorious with a final score of 15-12, holding a decisive 14-8 lead before the concluding bouts. On the women’s side, the Blue Devils battled the Tar Heels in a close match, narrowly falling with a final score of 15-12.
“It was a good event … I was very happy with how we organized it, how we ran it, how both teams actually fenced and put pressure on each other,” head coach Omar Elgizery said. “So it was fun to watch.”
A standout moment in the men’s match came from a series of freshman wins that were crucial to securing the team’s success. Freshman foilist Joseph Glasson set the tone with a pivotal 5-3 win in the 20th bout, followed by a narrow yet vital 5-4 victory by sabre fencer William Holz in the subsequent bout. Freshman sabre Lev Ermakov faced North Carolina’s John Lin, clinching a close 5-4 win in the decisive 22nd bout that sealed the victory for Duke. Glasson, Holz and Ermakov each stepped up under pressure, showing how significant their roles are becoming for Duke’s success.
“I was very happy with seeing the freshman coming through and showing up in a hard situation when they are still new to it,” Elgeziry said. “They didn't fence in NCAA style or matches in this style before coming into college. We were fortunate that most of them handled the pressure very well.”
Contrary to most fencing matches which have multiple fencers on different strips at once, this competition featured only one strip. All of the eyes were focused on one match at a time making it a high-pressure situation against a rival for even the veteran fencers.
Four Blue Devil men turned in outstanding performances, finishing the day undefeated in their bouts. Senior Allen Marakov participated in one match and came out victorious, while his freshman substitute Isaac Lief built on that success with two wins in his matches. Foilists Dayaal Singh and Glasson also shone brightly, each winning all three of their bouts. Their collective efforts were pivotal in solidifying Duke's strong showing at the event.
“I feel good. I feel the men's team is looking strong,” Elgeziry said. “We started with a lot of freshmen for this meet and they were new to the format, and they handled the pressure very well.”
The women’s competition was fierce, particularly in the foil and sabre bouts, where Duke’s Sophia Chen and Skye Miller secured key early wins. The Blue Devils maintained a slight lead at various points, reaching 11-10 before North Carolina rallied to pull ahead. Despite the outcome, the Blue Devils showcased skill and resilience, with strong performances from sophomores Charlotte Koenig and Victoria Gorman. Although they ultimately lost, their showing revealed potential for the season ahead as they continue refining their competitive edge.
“I believe we fell short because we started a little bit slow,” Elgeziry said. “We dropped matches that we shouldn't drop, but also we had few injuries on the women's side. So that's that affected us a little bit.”
Looking ahead, Duke’s men’s and women’s fencing squads are preparing for the Elite Invitational Nov. 17 in Philadelphia, hosted by Temple. This tournament will give Duke’s freshmen and returning athletes another opportunity to build on their momentum and face a fresh field of competition early in the season.
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