While one can consider the fencing programs at North and South to still be in their infancy, one wouldn’t know it by what they have accomplished so far, especially this season.
At North, the boys’ foil squad placed second and qualified for the State Squad Championships at the District II Fencing Championships on January 31. The epee came in third and qualified for the State Squad Championships. With their combined results, the boy’s team came in fourth and qualified for the Team Championships Sweet Sixteen. In the individual tournament, Joe Behnke placed first and qualified for the State Individual Championships. Hamad Masood placed fifth and qualified for the State Individual Championships. The boys also defeated South, 16-11, on January 29.
The North girls’ fencing team is also faring quite well. The girls’ foil came in fourth and qualified for the state squad championships on January 31. Anjali Baliga placed first and qualified for the state individual championships, and Gentley Smith came in fifth and qualified for the state individual championships. The girls also defeated their crosstown rivals, South, 17-10, on January 29.
At South, both the girls and boys have great records – the girls are 7-0 and the boys are 6-2. The boys sabre squad, composed of junior Alex Guo, sophomore Steven Yang, and junior Howard Chen, took first place at the Division II competition on February 7, qualifying the squad for state competition. Guo and Yang will be competing for the state boys’ sabre championships in March.
