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NCAA Championships
Ibrahim Earns All-America Honors at NCAA Fencing Championships
3.26.17 | Women's Fencing
INDIANAPOLIS - The season has concluded for sixth-ranked Temple fencing after two Owls represented the program at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Junior Safa Ibrahim, making her third straight appearance at the national meet, recorded her highest-ever finish of ninth place in epee to earn honorable mention All-America honors.
Ibrahim finished just barely out of the top eight based on touches scored, winning 12 of her 23 bouts in the round robin as did the seventh and eighth-place finishers. As a freshman, Ibrahim placed 16th of the 24 fencers in epee, and she finished 17th a year ago.
"This was by far the best Safa has ever done," said Temple head coach Dr. Nikki Franke. "She started slow each day, but once she got going she fenced really well in a very tough field. Its been several years since we had an All-American and we're very proud of Safa."
Participating in her first NCAA Championships in her first year with the Owls was freshman Kerry Plunkett, who placed 19th in sabre among 24 competitors.
"To qualify as a freshman is special in itself," said Franke. "No tournament like this exists, so it's really good for her to have this experience and see what it's like. Hopefully she'll be able to attend in the future and use this to help her. It really is an honor just to make it, and it doesn't come easy. I just hope both girls took in every moment and enjoyed their experience."
With 20 total points, Temple took 14th place among the 24 women's teams represented at the championships.
"I'm very pleased with that result, considering we only had two fencers there," said Franke. "Overall it has been a great year, and these girls fenced very hard in a very tough tournament."
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Ibrahim finished just barely out of the top eight based on touches scored, winning 12 of her 23 bouts in the round robin as did the seventh and eighth-place finishers. As a freshman, Ibrahim placed 16th of the 24 fencers in epee, and she finished 17th a year ago.
"This was by far the best Safa has ever done," said Temple head coach Dr. Nikki Franke. "She started slow each day, but once she got going she fenced really well in a very tough field. Its been several years since we had an All-American and we're very proud of Safa."
Participating in her first NCAA Championships in her first year with the Owls was freshman Kerry Plunkett, who placed 19th in sabre among 24 competitors.
"To qualify as a freshman is special in itself," said Franke. "No tournament like this exists, so it's really good for her to have this experience and see what it's like. Hopefully she'll be able to attend in the future and use this to help her. It really is an honor just to make it, and it doesn't come easy. I just hope both girls took in every moment and enjoyed their experience."
With 20 total points, Temple took 14th place among the 24 women's teams represented at the championships.
"I'm very pleased with that result, considering we only had two fencers there," said Franke. "Overall it has been a great year, and these girls fenced very hard in a very tough tournament."
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Players Mentioned
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
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