Completed Event: Fencing versus NCAA Championships on March 19, 2026 , , M: 6th/22 (44) | W: 11th/20 (37)
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Final
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vs NCAA Championships
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Shoman, Tolba Tabbed USFCA Men’s Newcomers of the Year
5/6/2026 2:16:00 PM | Fencing
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke men's fencers Zachary Shoman and Abdelrahman Tolba were tabbed the 2025-26 United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) Men's Collegiate Newcomers of the Year for sabre and foil, respectively, the organization announced this week.
Hailing from Cairo, Egypt, Tolba turned in an outstanding inaugural campaign for the Blue Devils. The freshman helped lead the foil squad to a 15-7 overall mark in their respective bouts, while also aiding the Duke men to a 16-6 record, the 2026 ACC Men's Fencing Championship and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Individually, Tolba boasted a regular-season ledger of 25-2 and a team-best .925 winning percentage. He culminated his rookie year with USFCA All-Region First Team and NCAA All-America Second Team honors, earning a third-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional and taking eighth at the NCAA Men's Fencing Championships.
Shoman assisted the Duke sabres to a record of 15-7 in bouts and contributed to the Blue Devil men posting a 16-6 ledger during regular season competition, the 2026 ACC Men's Fencing Championship and a sixth-place finish at NCAAs. After going 21-24 (.467) during the regular season, Shoman flipped the switch in the postseason and delivered an outstanding close to the year. The Short Hills, New Jersey, product collected USFCA All-Region First Team accolades after finishing runner-up at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, then closed the season with a 14th-place showing at the NCAA Men's Fencing Championships.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils fencing, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFEN".
#GoDuke
Hailing from Cairo, Egypt, Tolba turned in an outstanding inaugural campaign for the Blue Devils. The freshman helped lead the foil squad to a 15-7 overall mark in their respective bouts, while also aiding the Duke men to a 16-6 record, the 2026 ACC Men's Fencing Championship and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Individually, Tolba boasted a regular-season ledger of 25-2 and a team-best .925 winning percentage. He culminated his rookie year with USFCA All-Region First Team and NCAA All-America Second Team honors, earning a third-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional and taking eighth at the NCAA Men's Fencing Championships.
Shoman assisted the Duke sabres to a record of 15-7 in bouts and contributed to the Blue Devil men posting a 16-6 ledger during regular season competition, the 2026 ACC Men's Fencing Championship and a sixth-place finish at NCAAs. After going 21-24 (.467) during the regular season, Shoman flipped the switch in the postseason and delivered an outstanding close to the year. The Short Hills, New Jersey, product collected USFCA All-Region First Team accolades after finishing runner-up at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, then closed the season with a 14th-place showing at the NCAA Men's Fencing Championships.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils fencing, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFEN".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
Sabre
/ Fencing
Foil
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