Computer Science Major Named Co-Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year

DURHAM, N.C. – A combined 33 Duke fencers garnered spots on the All-ACC Academic Men's and Women's Fencing Teams, as announced by the conference office Thursday. Junior Kunling Tong was tabbed the Co-Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The male Blue Devils honored were Ethan Boroditsky, Laith Elkousy, Lev Ermakov, Joseph Glasson, Justin Glozman, William Holz, Owen Li, Joshua Lo, Allen Marakov, Justin Morrill, Giulio Pech, Ryan Pelosky, Kozmo Rhyu, Dayaal Singh, Samir Travers, Xander Wilcox and Peyton Young. Marakov and Morrill earned their third selections while Pelosky, Rhyu, Singh, Travers and Wilcox picked up their second.

On the women's side, Monica Balakrishnan, Eiry Du, Victoria Gorman, Skylar Knight, Charlotte Koenig, Rachel Koo, Rachel Kowalsky, Katie Lin, Vanessa Lin, Kavya Menke, Sky Miller, Zizi Newhard, Natalie Olsen, Sophia Shen, Hava Stone and Tong were recognized. Menke is now a four-time honoree. Balakrishnan, Koo, Kowalsky and Stone received their third selections with Gorman, Knight, Koenig, Vanessa Lin and Shen registering their second. 

Tong earned a silver medal at the ACC Championship by going 5-0 in pool competition and earning the No. 2 seed heading into pool play. She also helped the women's team to the gold medal match versus Notre Dame at the ACC event. The Marietta, Ga., product placed ninth at the 2025 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional to earn honorable mention honors. She turned in a 22-9 regular-season ledger to guide the saber squad to a 23-4 mark during the campaign. Tong helped Duke to a 15-12 upset versus No. 1 Harvard, the reigning NCAA champions, with a 3-0 performance. 

A now three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection, Tong owns a 4.00 grade-point average as a computer science major. She has earned a place on the ACC Academic Honor Roll every year and been placed on Duke's Dean's List with Distinction three times. 

Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0-grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. In addition, student-athletes must compete in either the ACC Championship or NCAA Championship this season.

The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.

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Read the press release on goduke.com