HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU fencing has a new home. The Knights announced on Thursday a partnership that will make Durkan Fencing Academy, located in Ridgewood, N.J., the home of FDU men's and women's fencing.
 
The partnership comes just months after FDU announced the addition of a men's fencing program. While the men's team will launch in the fall of 2027, the FDU women's team will begin training and practicing at Durkan Fencing Academy next semester.
 
"This is a crucial, and exciting, next step for our growing fencing programs," said FDU Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Brad Hurlbut. "We could not be happier to find somewhere that our fencers can develop and grow. Durkan's pristine facilities were a perfect fit for our needs, and they have been excellent to work with in this process. I believe this will be incredibly beneficial for our teams."
 
Founded in 2014, Durkan Fencing Academy is a state-of-the-art fencing facility. The academy is dedicated to developing fencers of all ages. The facility offers eight grounded regulation fencing strips that sit on a custom rubber sports floor. Outside of the strips, there areas for athletes to weight-train, as well as study

"Durkan Fencing Academy is excited to partner with FDU," said Business Owner Amy Durkan. "We founded our academy with the goal of growing the sport of fencing at every level and FDU's commitment to expanding their NCAA fencing program is a huge win for the fencing community. Over ten years of training New Jersey's top fencers, we have seen first-hand how an NCAA college fencing experience can enrich the lives of student-athletes. We look forward to our Durkan Fencing x FDU collaboration: Go Knights!"

In addition to the partnership, Durkan will be hosting the Durkan Regional Showcase at the Bogota Savings Bank Center on May 2nd and 3rd. 

"We are thrilled to host the Durkan Regional Showcase," continued Durkan. "The USA Fencing RJCC event (Regional Junior Cadet Circuit) will bring top fencers ages 13 to 19 from our region to the arena for a truly elite experience. With over 800 registrations, the Durkan Regional Showcase will be one of the largest RJCC's in the Northeast. Fencers, parents, and coaches in the region have the awesome opportunity to experience NCAA fencing and learn more about the new program expansion at FDU."
 
Visit Durkan Fencing Academy's website to learn more.
 
About Durkan Fencing Academy
Founded in 2014, Durkan Fencing Academy is a premier training facility in Ridgewood, New Jersey, dedicated to developing fencers of all ages and skill levels. Led by head coach Patrick Durkan, the academy combines elite coaching with science-based training methods to maximize athletic performance and long-term development. Durkan Fencing Academy offers a full range of programming, including beginner instruction, private lessons, and competitive training, all within a state-of-the-art facility.


About FDU
FDU is home to 23 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the NEC, the Knights have had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition as well as giving back to the Bergen County community. FDU became the first school in Northeast Conference (NEC) history to win championships in women's volleyball, women's soccer, and men's soccer in the same season (2022). In 2023, the Burgundy and Blue also became the first NEC school to win two games as a 16-seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, including an upset over top-seeded Purdue. As a result of its incredible 2022-23 season, FDU placed 92nd in the Learfield Director's Cup, the first NEC program to finish in the Top 100. In 2024 Salif Mane captured the Triple jump title at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, went on to win the gold medal at the Team USA Olympic Trials, and compete at the Paris Olympics. In 2025, FDU won four conference championships in the span of 35 days in women's basketball, women's bowling, women's golf, and women's tennis. Off the field, FDU student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award in 2020, 2024 and 2025. In addition to recent championships, FDU holds five additional national championships, three in sport of women's fencing and two in women's bowling.