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.