Temple University Athletics
Fencing Adds Five Talented Student-Athletes for 2015-16
8.11.15 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA – Five freshmen will join the highly successful Temple fencing program for the 2015-16 season under head coach Nikki Franke. The five hail from three different states and represent a number of strong high schools and club teams.
The group of recruits includes Quinn Duwelius (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard), Fiona Fong (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills), Auset Muhammad (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Waldorf), Blessing Olaode (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) and Jessica Rockford (Livingston, N.J./Livingston).
"We're very excited to welcome this outstanding incoming class," said Franke. "This is a group of very talented fencers with an extraordinary work ethic. They have been working hard this summer to make sure they're in the best shape possible when they arrive on campus this fall. They will certainly add depth to our team and make an immediate contribution."
Duwelius is an epee fencer and the 2014 Connecticut High School Champion out of Ledyard High School. She was also a gold medalist at both the Division II Virginia ROC and the NEUSFA Division II in senior epee. Duwelius earned a bronze medal at the Division II NAC in Dallas. She is a "B" rated epee fencer and also represents the Rhode Island Fencing Academy.
Also an epee fencer, Fong finished in the top 16 at the 2015 Division IA Summer Nationals. In 2014 she was an all-state third team selection in New Jersey, and took eighth place at the New Jersey State Championships. Fong also earned a bronze medal at the Charm City ROC. She is a "B" rated epee fencer and also competes for Medeo Fencing Club.
Muhammad is a new addition to Temple's foil team, coming to the Owls from Chicago Waldorf High School and the ATABA Fencing Club. She is a three-time gold medalist at both the Midwest High School Open Championship and the Stevenson High School U19 Open. In 2014, she took 10th place at the Division II NAC and at the Remenyik Open in junior women's foil. Muhammad also earned a top-16 finish at the 2014 Burton Open.
After helping lead her Columbia High School team to the 2015 New Jersey High School Team State Championship, Olaode joins the sabre team for Temple fencing. She was named to the all-state second team in New Jersey and took fifth individually at the state meet. Olaode earned second place at the district championships, and finished sixth at the 2014 Division IA Jeff Wolfe ROC. She is a "B" rated sabre fencer, and also fences for the New Jersey Fencing Academy.
Rockford, another recruit to earn a "B" rating, also joins Temple's sabre squad. She was a bronze medalist at the 2015 Division IA Cobra ROC and an all-state third team selection in New Jersey in 2015. Rockford placed 11th in Division IA at the 2015 Summer Nationals, and 12th in junior sabre. She earned a top-eight finish at the New Jersey High School Individual Championships in 2015, and took fifth place in the cadets division at the Junior Olympics in 2013. In addition to representing Livingston High School, Rockford also fences for Manhattan Fencing Center.
The freshmen fencers get to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with the rest of the team set to return on Friday, Aug. 22. The season officially begins for the Owls when they host the 36th Annual Temple Open on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
The group of recruits includes Quinn Duwelius (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard), Fiona Fong (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills), Auset Muhammad (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Waldorf), Blessing Olaode (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) and Jessica Rockford (Livingston, N.J./Livingston).
"We're very excited to welcome this outstanding incoming class," said Franke. "This is a group of very talented fencers with an extraordinary work ethic. They have been working hard this summer to make sure they're in the best shape possible when they arrive on campus this fall. They will certainly add depth to our team and make an immediate contribution."
Duwelius is an epee fencer and the 2014 Connecticut High School Champion out of Ledyard High School. She was also a gold medalist at both the Division II Virginia ROC and the NEUSFA Division II in senior epee. Duwelius earned a bronze medal at the Division II NAC in Dallas. She is a "B" rated epee fencer and also represents the Rhode Island Fencing Academy.
Also an epee fencer, Fong finished in the top 16 at the 2015 Division IA Summer Nationals. In 2014 she was an all-state third team selection in New Jersey, and took eighth place at the New Jersey State Championships. Fong also earned a bronze medal at the Charm City ROC. She is a "B" rated epee fencer and also competes for Medeo Fencing Club.
Muhammad is a new addition to Temple's foil team, coming to the Owls from Chicago Waldorf High School and the ATABA Fencing Club. She is a three-time gold medalist at both the Midwest High School Open Championship and the Stevenson High School U19 Open. In 2014, she took 10th place at the Division II NAC and at the Remenyik Open in junior women's foil. Muhammad also earned a top-16 finish at the 2014 Burton Open.
After helping lead her Columbia High School team to the 2015 New Jersey High School Team State Championship, Olaode joins the sabre team for Temple fencing. She was named to the all-state second team in New Jersey and took fifth individually at the state meet. Olaode earned second place at the district championships, and finished sixth at the 2014 Division IA Jeff Wolfe ROC. She is a "B" rated sabre fencer, and also fences for the New Jersey Fencing Academy.
Rockford, another recruit to earn a "B" rating, also joins Temple's sabre squad. She was a bronze medalist at the 2015 Division IA Cobra ROC and an all-state third team selection in New Jersey in 2015. Rockford placed 11th in Division IA at the 2015 Summer Nationals, and 12th in junior sabre. She earned a top-eight finish at the New Jersey High School Individual Championships in 2015, and took fifth place in the cadets division at the Junior Olympics in 2013. In addition to representing Livingston High School, Rockford also fences for Manhattan Fencing Center.
The freshmen fencers get to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with the rest of the team set to return on Friday, Aug. 22. The season officially begins for the Owls when they host the 36th Annual Temple Open on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Players Mentioned
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
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