Western Wayne Today

The Wayne State University fencing program is preparing to host the annual Danosi Open on Saturday, February 10, at the Matthaei building in Detroit. The event will commence at 8:30 a.m., featuring competitions in all three fencing weapons. During the day, two seniors will be honored for their contributions to the Wayne State fencing program: Ramadan Dinkins from Chicago and Ahmed Elsayed from Tanta, Egypt. The Senior Day ceremony is scheduled between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Participants in the Danosi Open will compete as individuals, with no team events taking place. The competition is open to USA Fencing members born in 2010 or earlier and will be sanctioned by USA Fencing.

The event continues to honor Istvan Danosi, who coached fencing at Wayne State University from 1958 to 1982. Danosi, who escaped Hungary in 1957, led the program to national prominence with a coaching record of 283-59 and five NCAA Fencing Championships. He produced numerous All-Americans and National Champions before retiring after winning two NCAA titles in 1982. Danosi was inducted into the Wayne State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983.

A total of 19 Warriors are set to compete throughout the day, including nearly all men's fencers and several women's fencers from Wayne State's roster. Events include Senior Mixed Foil, Senior Women's Sabre, Senior Women's Epee, Senior Mixed Sabre, Women's Foil, and Senior Mixed Epee.

In recent competitions at the Northwestern Duals in Evanston, Illinois, Wayne State's men's team recorded a 1-8 result while the women's team finished with a 2-6 record over two days of events on February 3 and 4. Both teams showed strong performances in epee events during these competitions.