The Many Sides of Safa

Competition often brings out a different side of people, but the contrast is even more pronounced in someone like mild-mannered Safa Ibrahim, the lone senior for nationally ranked Temple fencing in 2017-18.

Ibrahim is as laid back as they come in her everyday life, introverted but quick to smile. She came to Temple as a shy freshman in 2014, having made the transition to college fencing solely because her mother made it happen by setting up a meeting with head coach Dr. Nikki Franke.

"I really didn't communicate with college coaches," said Ibrahim. "I didn't even think that much about fencing in college. It was actually my mom who spoke to Coach Franke! I was so resistant before that, it was…