The New Trier varsity fencing team began their season well at the Red Devils Invitational in Lowell, Indiana, placing six fencers into the top eight for their individual categories and fourteen within the top 16 of their brackets.

Senior co-captain Danielle Sirivat placed the highest of the New Trier competitors, and earned her E2017 rating after a third place finish.

Additionally, senior co-captain Juliette Speck received a medal for her eighth place finish.

Junior co-captain Sophie Beitel represented women’s foil, and placed in eighth after fighting back from an initial low seeding after her pool rounds.

Senior Carolynn Klingsporn placed eighth of 42 in women’s epee.

In men’s foil, senior Joe Pinkerton and sophomore Francis Ryan placed seventh and eighth of 51 competitors.

New Trier faced tough competition against experienced teams including Culver Military Academy, Stevenson, and Libertyville.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, but it’s only one week into the season. People are still getting their fencing legs back, but the team did really well, outperforming our expectations,” said varsity coach Shaun Smith.

“There’s a community within fencing that people don’t really know about; this year there is less of a division between upper and underclassmen,” said senior captain Jason Borne.