UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Long Island University junior Mo Elsayed stands on top of the men's epee in Division I collegiate fencing, as the Tanta, Gharbeya, Egypt native won an NCAA championship in the discipline Friday afternoon.
"This is an amazing feeling," Elsayed said. "I could hear all the support of the LIU fencing team and my family. I'm glad I can bring this level of success to the program. My coach and my teammates helped keep me focused and motivated, and I'm happy to have them in my corner."
After excelling in the opening rounds of the tournament, Elsayed was the top-seeded fencer in the men's epee semifinals. The LIU junior won his semifinal match against No. 4 seed Mahmoud Elsayed of Wayne State University 15-14 to advance to the finals, where he defeated No. 2 seed Henry Lawson of Harvard University 12-11.
"Mo works hard every day, so this isn't a surprise at his success," LIU men's fencing Head Coach Dwight Smith said. "The amazing support crew of LIU admin, athletics and the fencing team helped this amazing accomplishment. This was the strongest field of competitors I've ever seen in men's epee, and to be successful is no small feat."
It's Elsayed's second medal at an NCAA championship, having also taken bronze in 2023. The star fencer continues to add to his trophy case, which includes a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics, having represented Egypt in the individual men's epee competition.
It's Elsayed's second medal at an NCAA championship, having also taken bronze in 2023. The star fencer continues to add to his trophy case, which includes a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics, having represented Egypt in the individual men's epee competition.
Elsayed stormed through the first three rounds of competition on Thursday, finishing the first round with a 7-0 record and a +26 indicator, the second round with a 2-2 record and a +1 indicator and the third round with a 4-0 record and a +9 indicator. In Friday's fourth round, Elsayed posted a 4-0 record with a +7 indicator before ending the fifth round with a 2-2 record and a -4 indicator. Overall, Elsayed ended the championship competition with a 21-4 record and a +41 indicator.
Also representing the Sharks at the NCAA championships was junior Andrew Gefell, who competed in the men's saber discipline. LIU also has two women's fencers competing this weekend at the NCAA Women's Fencing Championships, which begins on Saturday – senior Costanza Greggi in women's epee and graduate student Anna Szántay in women's foil.
