Completed Event: Fencing at NCAA Championship on March 20, 2025 , , 12th
/
Final
Fencing
at NCAA Championship
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Trio of Tong, Koo and Rhyu to Lead Duke Fencing in 2025-26
8/26/2025 11:36:00 AM | Fencing
DURHAM, N.C.— Duke fencing head coach Omar Elgeziry announced seniors Kunling Tong and Rachel Koo along with junior Kozmo Rhyu will serve as team captains for the 2025-26 season.
Competing across the three different weapons, Tong leads the saber corps, Koo the foil squad and Rhyu the epee group. All three have earned NCAA postseason bids with Koo garnering second team All-America recognition last season.
Tong, two-time NCAA qualifier, is coming off a 22-9 ledger in 2024-25. She qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, placing ninth for the second consecutive season. The 2025 ACC Co-Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year, the veteran fencer has 85 career victories and a runner-up finish at the 2025 ACC Championships.
A second team All-American in 2025, Koo returns after a breakthrough season. She is a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier and made a 10-spot improvement at the NCAA Championships in 2025 after making her debut as a freshman in 2023.
Rhyu, 2024 NCAA regional qualifier, looks to build on his sophomore campaign in which he competed in four regular-season events. Winning 20 bouts his rookie season, the native of McLean, Virginia joins Tong and Koo as a member of the All-ACC Academic Team in each of his seasons at Duke.
The 2025-26 Duke fencing schedule is nearing completion as the Blue Devils prepare for an October start to the campaign. Duke will host the ACC Championships February 21-22.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils fencing, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFEN".
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#GoDuke
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Competing across the three different weapons, Tong leads the saber corps, Koo the foil squad and Rhyu the epee group. All three have earned NCAA postseason bids with Koo garnering second team All-America recognition last season.
Tong, two-time NCAA qualifier, is coming off a 22-9 ledger in 2024-25. She qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, placing ninth for the second consecutive season. The 2025 ACC Co-Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year, the veteran fencer has 85 career victories and a runner-up finish at the 2025 ACC Championships.
A second team All-American in 2025, Koo returns after a breakthrough season. She is a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier and made a 10-spot improvement at the NCAA Championships in 2025 after making her debut as a freshman in 2023.
Rhyu, 2024 NCAA regional qualifier, looks to build on his sophomore campaign in which he competed in four regular-season events. Winning 20 bouts his rookie season, the native of McLean, Virginia joins Tong and Koo as a member of the All-ACC Academic Team in each of his seasons at Duke.
The 2025-26 Duke fencing schedule is nearing completion as the Blue Devils prepare for an October start to the campaign. Duke will host the ACC Championships February 21-22.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils fencing, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFEN".
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#GoDuke
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Players Mentioned
Allen Marakov Wins Bronze in Epee
Wednesday, February 26
Kunling Tong Takes Silver in Saber
Wednesday, February 26
Beguinet Classic: Kavya Menke Interview
Monday, February 10
Beguinet Classic: Omar Elgeziry Interview
Monday, February 10
