This is definitely the year of the fencing team, one of New Trier’s most under the radar athletic programs. The boys varsity team is currently 8-1 in the conference while the girls varsity team holds an astounding 9-0 record. Both teams are set to make appearances in the championship.
From the days of tryout, November 4th and 5th, New Trier was housing a champion fencing team from the start. The teams conquered not only the North Shore, but almost the entire state of Illinois.
The fencing team consists of three parts: epee, sabre, and foil. Epee and sabre are almost the same, except in epee the fencer is allowed to strike the lower than the waist. Sabre is upper body hits only, except on the hands. Foil uses a different and simpler type of fencing sword.
It also helps to know how the scoring system works; whenever a fencer hits another in any of the allowed areas then it scores one point. Of course, if that happens, then the duel is not over, it depends on how much points are required to win.
Onto the results: on January 26th, New Trier headed over to Culver Military Academy. This was the only loss in the boys team and is why they are 8-1 in the conference. This was also where New Trier’s girls epee took first place in the meet.
Senior fencers Sydney Weiss and Stella Park, one of the captains redeemed the fencing team from the boys’ only loss. Juniors Maddy Burds, Amanda Berlindo, and Jessica Shapiro, their scores all added up to 56. Girls sabre also came in first place at Culver with Juniors Allison Fitzgerald, Charlotte Stender, Caroline Olin, and senior captains Camille Ruiz-Funes and Devin Smith. All contributed to their total of 44 points.
The meet was not that bad for the boys team because their epee team and only also came in first place with a total of 75 points. Senior captain Kirk Robinson feels that his team could have done better, but is still happy with their current standing.
Earlier on January 19th, New Trier fenced at the Novice Championships at Marian Central Catholic High School. No losses for New Trier were recorded here. Boys foil finished with 39 points, epee with 38, and sabre with 26. The girls foil didn’t go unheard with 45 points, epee with 26, and sabre with 38.
“We have a deep team. While one team has one person who is good, we have a team full of good fencers,” said Kirk Robinson.
Before this, the fencing made an appearance at the Midway Fencing classic on January 12th at University High Lab School. Boys foil finished with 64 points, sabre finished with 68, and epee finished with 65. While girls foil finished with 58, epee with 55, and sabre with 54. Once again, no losses recorded.
The fencing team started the season out well at the Stevenson Invitational on November 10th, five days after the season officially started. Boys foil ended with 61, epee with 53, and sabre with 54. Girls foil had 44, epee had 33, and sabre had 42. This was clearly a good way to start the season.
Seven days later they would go to participate at the Catholic Memorial High School. Again, Boys epee had 64, foil had 61, and sabre had 54. Girls epee with 39, foil with 49, and sabre with 54.
It all led down to February 2nd, The Great Lakes Conference Championship at the Catholic Memorial High School.
Girls epee came in first place with 33 points, Sydney Weiss was awarded the gold medal. The sabre team came in second place with 29 points with Charlotte Stender winning the silver medal. Kellsey Mone was awarded the bronze medal for her performance in the foil team with a total 33 points.
Boys sabre finished in first place with 36 points, senior captain Eli Gitelman was given the gold medal. Junior Alex Russell was rewarded a silver medal in the foil team with a total score of 34. Epee came in third place with a total of 29 and senior Mitchell Schrank receiving a bronze medal.