University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

In 1972, Detroit captured its first and only NCAA National Championship. The sport was fencing and Tyrone Simmons was a major reason as he was the individual foil champion in both 1971 and 1972.

Led by Titans Hall of Fame head coach Richard Perry, the squad boasted three All-Americans. Fred Hooker finished in fourth place in the country in the epee weapon, Ken Blake was the runner-up in the sabre competition and Simmons was the individual NCAA National Champion in the foil.

Detroit captured its lone NCAA crown by besting fencing powers Columbia and New York University. After the first day of competition, the Titans held only a slim advantage over Columbia, leading 49-48.

During that second stanza of play, Blake and Hooker combined for a 35-11 record in the epee and sabre. Simmons backed up his earlier statement, going undefeated in the foil. He finished with an incredible margin, collecting 115 touches to just 32 hits on himself. The Titans took home the top spot, finishing with 73 total points, besting New York by three and seven over Columbia. Detroit became the first non-Eastern school to win the men's fencing title since Illinois in 1958.

The 1972 men's team was comprised of Bob and Rick Berschback, Ken Blake, Eric Cintron, Pat Clancy, Steve Contee, Greg Givens, Dave and Jim Kenney, Greg Kocab, Lynnderek Leonoard, Joe Moss, Charles Rauch, Tyrone Simmons and Carlton Stanton.

Detroit finished the season with a 19-1 dual meet record. Hooker went 33-11 on the year, Blake was 46-6 and Simmons went 43-4. The three fencers from Philadelphia, Pa. were the first trio of African-Americans to win the NCAA crown. Simmons was also named the Outstanding Fencer of the Meet for the second straight year.

The Titans, which had placed third the previous year in 1971 at the national finals, had outstanding seasons across the board from several of its fencing members. Lynnderek Leonard went 46-6 in the sabre, while Greg Givens finished with 32 bout wins in the sabre. Greg Kocab had a 38-6 record in the epee, while Pat Clancy tallied 31 triumphs in the foil.