Northwest Wayne News

CASABLANCA, Morocco -- Former Wayne State University men's epeeist Ahmed Elsayed competed for his native Egypt at the African Zone Championships earlier this month.

Elsayed, who was a Warrior from 2018 through 2024, participated in both the individual competition on June 6 and the team competition on June 9.

In the individual portion of the championships, Elsayed went 4-1 in pool play with his only setback (5-4) to Abdelkarim El Haouari of Morocco. He was +7 (24-17) in touches to earn the No. 8 seed for Direct Elimination.

Elsayed received a bye in the round of 32 before facing El Haouari in the round of 16, where he dropped a 15-11 decision to finish 11th.

Three days later, Elsayed helped the Egyptian men's epee squad to a gold medal. As the No. 1 seed, Egypt received a bye in the quarterfinals. In the 45-23 triumph over Angola in the semifinals, Ahmed compiled a 15-5 mark in touches winning 5-1, 5-3, and 5-1 over his opponents.

In the gold medal match against No. 2 seeded Morocco, Egypt held on for a narrow victory with a score of 42-41. After falling behind with scores of 5-3 and 5-4, Elsayed battled El Haouari to a 5-5 draw in the penultimate bout helping Egypt secure a lead at 38-31. Although Morocco won the final bout with a score of 10-4, Egypt prevailed by one point.

Elsayed will be returning to Wayne State this fall to serve as an assistant coach on Andy Tulleners' staff.

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Wayne State's Reka Galfalvy, who recently completed her freshman season in Detroit, participated in the Hungarian National Championships last month in women's epee.

During the individual competition which Galfalvy entered seeded 49th out of 83 competitors, she went 3-3 in pool play with an even scoreline (23-23). Galfalvy was re-seeded as No.41 after pools. In the round of 64, she posted a decisive victory with a score of 15-4 over Fanni Illes (No.24 seed). Galfalvy continued her success with a win by scoring15-12 over ninth-seeded Jazmin Toth in the round of 32.

She was re-seeded ninth for the round of16 but fell short with a scoreline of15-13 against No.8-seeded Reka Marschall from MTK Budapest as well as Galfalvy herself. Her final placement was16th.

In team competition held on May26 , MTK Budapest was seeded second out of eight clubs . In their opening match , MTK Budapest secured victory with45 -31 against Vasas .Galafalvy recorded two wins(6 -2 &5 -4 )and one draw(6 -6).

In semifinals ,MTK Budapest narrowly defeated BSHE45 -44 advancing them into finals.Galafavy scored one win(4 -3),but suffered two losses(5 -6&5 -11).

In gold medal bout ,MTK Budapest faced top-seeded TSC but lost45 -41.Galafavy recorded two losses(2 -5&5 -6)and one draw(5 – five ).

Reka Galafavy(second from right )team silver medal at2024 Hungarian National Championships.