DURHAM, N.C. – Before we celebrate our Duke fencing senior class on their graduation, we wanted to look back on their successful careers as Blue Devils.
Kendyl Bree
Biomedical Engineering | Biology & Psychology minors
As an epeeist, Bree registered a career ledger of 35-33 over three years of competition for the Blue Devils.
Bree qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional meet twice, and in 2020 finished in 16th.
She was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll the last three years and will graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering.
Connor Ghazaleh
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Computer Science | Economics minor
Ghazaleh competed for the Blue Devils as a freshman and earned a 21-24 record in epee. As a rookie, Ghazaleh qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional and placed 23rd.
The Winchester, Mass., native was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll twice and will graduate with a degree in electrical & computer engineering.
Eoin Gronningsater
Political Science | Psychology minor | Innovation & Entrepreneurship certificate
Gronningsater will leave his mark on the Duke history books as one of the most successful fencers in program history.
A two-time Duke fencing captain and three-time All-American in foil, Gronningsater has seen both athletic and academic success throughout his four years as a Blue Devil. He was recently selected a 2020 Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship Award recipient from the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was also named the 2020 Duke Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.
In 2019, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native became the first Blue Devil male foilist to capture back-to-back All-America accolades since Dorian Cohen (2010-11) and was tabbed to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III Men's At-Large Team.
With an outstanding 182-38 (.827) career record to date, Gronningsater qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of his four years and the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, was named ACC Fencer of the Year in 2018 and the ACC Most Valuable Player for helping lead the Blue Devil men to their first ACC team title.
In his first year with the program, Gronningsater captured a bronze medal at the 2017 ACC Fencing Championships before his silver-medal performance in 2018.
Gronningsater also teamed up with teammate and fellow captain
Lindsay Sapienza to create the Fence for the Fight campaign in partnership with the Duke Cancer Institute in support of the Director of Administration/Recruiting for the fencing team,
Elizabeth Beguinet, in her fight against breast cancer. With 1,215 wins this season in combination with pledging from donors, the Fence for the Fight campaign totaled $30,144.55. The duo was honored by the ACC with the league's Top Six for Service Award.
Gronningsater will graduate with a degree in political science.
Aidan McGinnis
Biology | Psychology minor
McGinnis amassed a 47-51 career ledger in epee that included a career-high eighth place finish at the ACC Championships in 2019.
He qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional in 2019 and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll the last three years. He was also part of the 2018 ACC Championship team.
McGinnis will graduate with a degree in biology.
Lindsay Sapienza
Economics | Policy, Journalism & Media Studies certificate
Sapienza has been a saber squad powerhouse over the last four years, compiling a 185-94 career ledger.
As a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier, Sapienza collected a silver medal during her rookie season with the Blue Devils when Duke hosted the 2017 ACC Fencing Championships in historic Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Sapienza and Gronningsater came together to create the Fence for the Fight campaign in partnership with the Duke Cancer Institute in support of the Director of Administration/Recruiting for the fencing team,
Elizabeth Beguinet, in her fight against breast cancer. With 1,215 wins this season in combination with pledging from donors, the Fence for the Fight campaign totaled $30,144.55. The duo was honored by the ACC with the league's Top Six for Service Award.
Sapienza will graduate with a degree in economics.
Jonathan Schwartzman
Biology | Philosophy | Chemistry minor
Schwartzman has seen a successful career as a Blue Devil foilist with a 149-60 record to date.
Schwartzman qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman and placed 14th, just two spots shy of All-America status. As a NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional qualifier all four years, Schwartzman was also named to the All-ACC Academic team twice and was honored as a USFCA All-Region team selection in 2020.
He was also part of the 2018 ACC Championship team.
Schwartzman will graduate with a degree in biology.
Ben Stone
Evolutionary Anthropology | Decision Sciences certificate
Stone earned a spot on the travel team the last two seasons and compiled a 70-46 record in saber.
He qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional in 2019 and 2020, earning a sixth-place finish this year. He also finished ninth at the 2020 ACC Fencing Championships and was tabbed to the USFCA All-Region team for his efforts at the regional meet in 2020.
He was also part of the 2018 ACC Championship team.
Stone will graduate with a degree in evolutionary anthropology.
Zuzu Tang
Computer Science | Statistical Science
Over the last three years, Tang has compiled a 99-55 career ledger as an integral part of the women's foil squad.
Tang qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional the three years she competed for the Blue Devils and earned a 10th-place finish in 2018. She was also named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll the last three years.
Tang will graduate with a degree in computer science.
Agoston Walter
Biomedical Engineering | Electrical & Computer Engineering
Walter has compiled a 120-51 record over three years of competing for the Blue Devils.
As a freshman, Walter collected a bronze medal at the 2017 ACC Fencing Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships during his sophomore season where he earned All-ACC Academic team recognition. A three-time NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional qualifier, Walter was also named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll the last three years.
He was also part of the 2018 ACC Championship team.
Walter will graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering.
Jessica Whang
Biology | Chemistry & Psychology minors
Whang competed for the Blue Devil saber squad the last two years, earning a 27-16 record.
This year, Whang competed at the ACC Fencing Championships for the first time in her career and placed 15th and also qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional meet.
She is a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree and will graduate with a degree in biology.
Laurel Zhang
Economics | Public Policy
Zhang is one of the few Blue Devils in program history with a perfect 1-0 career record.
Zhang competed in her only bout as a Blue Devil this season at the annual Duke Meet and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll each year.
Zhang will graduate with a degree in economics.
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