Watch 2011 Tyrone Simmons Interview

DETROIT -- In 1972, Detroit captured its only NCAA National Championship. The sport was fencing and Tyrone Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Benjamin) was a major reason as he was the individual foil champion in both 1971 and 1972.

Detroit posted a 19-1 record in the 1972 season. Simmons led Detroit with a 43-4 dual meet record on the season while Ken Blake finished the dual season at 46-6 in the sabre and Fred Hooker went 33-11 in the epee.

In the 1972 NCAA Championships, Detroit held a slim 49-48 lead over Columbia following the first day of competition, and Simmons vowed that he was “...not going to let them even hit me.”

Day-two saw Detroit fence beautifully as Simmons went undefeated in the foil, scoring 115 touches to just 32. Hooker and Blake combined to post a 35-11 record in the epee and sabre. Detroit ended the competition with 73 points, three ahead of New York University and seven in front of Columbia.

Simmons ended up winning the foil competition, Blake took second in the sabre, and Hooker captured fourth in epee. In addition to being the first trio of African-Americans to win the fencing crown, all three members of the squad earned All-America honors.

Simmons was also the NCAA Foil Champion in 1971 and was named as the Illinois Memorial Award winner both years presented annually to the College Fencer of the Year. He was a member of the 1972 Olympic Team and also the 1971 Gold Medal U.S. Foil team at the Pan American Games. He posted an outstanding three-season record of 126-10 for a winning percentage of .927.