BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Three members of the Long Island University men's fencing team punched their tickets to the National Collegiate Men's Fencing Championships, the NCAA Men's Fencing Committee announced on Tuesday. 

LIU senior Mo Elsayed, senior Andrew Gefell, and junior Soma Somody all qualified for national competition after successful finishes at the NCAA Northeast Regional last weekend. 

Elsayed, a native of Tanta, Gharbeya, Egypt, returns to NCAA competition for the third time in his collegiate career, having previously finished third in 2023 before winning a national championship in men's épée last March. Elsayed posted a 26-1 overall record in bouts this winter and finished eighth at regional competition. 

Gefell returns to NCAA competition for the second consecutive season, having qualified last winter. With a 28-14 record in bouts this year, the Farmington, New York native finished eighth in last weekend's regional competition in men's sabre.  

In his first year with the program, Somody is coming off a runner-up finish at regional competition last weekend in men's épée. The Budapest, Hungary native has a 20-1 record in bouts this season, and heads off to NCAA competition for the first time in his career. 

The trio of Sharks begin NCAA competition on Saturday, March 21. Elsayed and Somody will compete in men's épée beginning at 9 a.m., while Gefell will compete in men's sabre beginning at 1 p.m.