University of North Carolina Athletics
Sophia Mandour cheers for her teammates at 2020 ACC Championships. She capped her freshman year with All-America honors.
Photo by: Mike Miller, the ACC
Mandour Leads Tar Heels With Spot On All-America FIrst Team
April 30, 2020 | Fencing
Five Tar Heels have earned postseason All-America and All-Region honors, as announced Wednesday by the USFCA (U.S. Fencing Coaches Association).
Freshman Sophia Mandour and sophomores James Mulligan and Beni Rabinowitz earned All-America and All-Region honors. Senior Jackie Litynski and freshman Abigale Parker joined them on the All-Region teams.
Fencing All-America honors are traditionally determined by finish at NCAA Championships. But with the championships cancelled this year, the awards were based on performance throughout the season.
The All-Region honors are new this year and are based on finish at one of the four regional competitions: Mid-Atlantic/South, Midwest, Northeast and West. UNC competes in the Mid-Atlantic/South Region, and that competition was held March 7 in Durham.
Mandour was named first-team All-America in recognition of an outstanding first season of collegiate competition. She qualified for NCAA Championships after placing 11th at NCAA Regionals, which earned her All-Region honorable mention
Mulligan, also an NCAA qualifier, placed eighth in men's foil at Regionals to earn a spot on the All-Region second team. He was named honorable mention All-America.
Rabinowitz, UNC's top finisher at Regionals with a fourth-place finish in men's sabre, earned first-team All-Region honors and was named honorable mention All-America. He was set to compete at NCAA Championships for the second year in a row.
Parker placed ninth in women's sabre at NCAA Regionals and Litynski was 12th to earn honorable mention All-Region honors for both.
All-America
Sophia Mandour, women's foil, first
James Mulligan, men's foil, HM
Beni Rabinowitz, men's sabre, HM
All-Region (Mid-Atlantic/South)
Beni Rabinowitz, men's sabre, first
James Mulligan, men's foil, second
Jackie Litynski, women's sabre, HM
Sophia Mandour, women's foil, HM
Abigale Parker, women's sabre, HM
Freshman Sophia Mandour and sophomores James Mulligan and Beni Rabinowitz earned All-America and All-Region honors. Senior Jackie Litynski and freshman Abigale Parker joined them on the All-Region teams.
Fencing All-America honors are traditionally determined by finish at NCAA Championships. But with the championships cancelled this year, the awards were based on performance throughout the season.
The All-Region honors are new this year and are based on finish at one of the four regional competitions: Mid-Atlantic/South, Midwest, Northeast and West. UNC competes in the Mid-Atlantic/South Region, and that competition was held March 7 in Durham.
Mandour was named first-team All-America in recognition of an outstanding first season of collegiate competition. She qualified for NCAA Championships after placing 11th at NCAA Regionals, which earned her All-Region honorable mention
Mulligan, also an NCAA qualifier, placed eighth in men's foil at Regionals to earn a spot on the All-Region second team. He was named honorable mention All-America.
Rabinowitz, UNC's top finisher at Regionals with a fourth-place finish in men's sabre, earned first-team All-Region honors and was named honorable mention All-America. He was set to compete at NCAA Championships for the second year in a row.
Parker placed ninth in women's sabre at NCAA Regionals and Litynski was 12th to earn honorable mention All-Region honors for both.
All-America
Sophia Mandour, women's foil, first
James Mulligan, men's foil, HM
Beni Rabinowitz, men's sabre, HM
All-Region (Mid-Atlantic/South)
Beni Rabinowitz, men's sabre, first
James Mulligan, men's foil, second
Jackie Litynski, women's sabre, HM
Sophia Mandour, women's foil, HM
Abigale Parker, women's sabre, HM
Players Mentioned
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Foil/Left Hand
/ Fencing
Foil/Left Hand
/ Fencing
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Sabre/Right Hand
/ FencingTar Heels in the Community pres. by NC Electric Co-ops - Share Your Holiday 2025 - December 18, 2025
Friday, December 19
WBB: Post-UNCW Press Conference - Dec. 17, 2025
Thursday, December 18
UNC Women's Basketball: Brooks, Toomey Blow Heels Past UNCW, 84-34
Thursday, December 18
Blue Heaven: 2025 UNC Field Hockey, Episode 5
Wednesday, December 17