Boys Fencing
Under Coach Mileham’s guidance, the boys’ fencing team wrapped up a remarkable season this year, achieving a record of 5 victories and 8 losses. This season’s captains were Kevin Suklall for the epee squad, Ben Conover for the sabre squad, Declan Webster for the foil squad, and Leo Slayne as the overall captain. Each captain significantly contributed to inspiring and educating the team during the season.
Ben Conover had his teammates observe the warm-up sessions of both their team and the opposing team, allowing them to analyze the various fencing styles and techniques employed. Following the bouts of Mendham, they would review the events of the meet, discuss what had transpired, identify any shortcomings, and explore areas for improvement. Conover said about his request to have them watch warm-ups, “Just things they can change so they could do better in the next bout.”
Kevin Suklall faced a significant challenge in ensuring that individuals fulfilled their responsibilities. To address this issue, he arranged for those who were not engaged in their tasks to observe their peers actively. Meanwhile, Leo Slayne and Kevin Suklall collaborated closely to ensure that each person remained focused on their respective duties.
Leo Slayne maintained the team’s cohesion and motivation throughout the season, by adopting a positive attitude, refraining from criticizing individuals for their mistakes, and instead promoting a “try this instead” approach. He also ensured that team members remained focused on their tasks, avoided distractions, and treated one another with respect. Leo expressed that his greatest achievement was witnessing the growth of various team members as fencers, particularly those specializing in epee; observing their development brought him immense pride.
Girls Fencing
The girls’ fencing team, led by Coach Dumbrill, concluded an impressive season this year, with 7 wins and 6 losses. This season, the captains included Alyson Holmes leading the epee team, Madeline Herbes steering the sabre team, Kathryn Fisher overseeing the foil team, and Jessey Rejano serving as the overall captain. Each captain played a vital role in motivating and instructing the team throughout the season.
As a junior captain, Madeline Herbes helped her team with working on distance this season, which has often resulted in individuals either underperforming or adjusting their attacking strategies based on the distance they maintain. Demonstrating patience in this context is crucial, as some students had no prior experience in fencing. Therefore, this significant moment was truly impressive, as it was inspiring to observe an individual who had never participated in fencing before successfully competing at such an elevated level.
Kathryn Fisher led the foil squad, and like Madeline, her focus on guiding the team was blade work and maintaining distance, while also delving into more advanced techniques such as feints and disengages. This approach involves initiating an attack, only to swiftly redirect the blade in a circular motion, thereby catching the opponent off guard. This method proves to be an effective strategy for scoring points against adversaries.
The epee squad captain Alyson Holmes, had the primary challenge of effectively teaching individuals the proper techniques for self-defense and ensuring they acquire the necessary skills. To address this, she implemented a variety of drills during the practice sessions, engaging all participants, particularly the younger athletes, by encouraging them to count aloud and actively participate. As a result of these efforts, their performance at the county championship significantly improved; they achieved fourth place, a notable advancement compared to our previous standings. Alyson believes they are adequately prepared and ready to take on the challenge for next year.
Jessey Rejano did an amazing job and took her part as a captain very seriously. In the initial stages, fencing lacked a chant, unlike the boys’ team, which had one. Consequently, Jessey created a new chant specifically for the girls’ team, as they had never had one before. She acquired face paint that represented our school, which many of the team members appreciated, as they often enjoy applying it to each other before competitions. Jessey also brought pom-poms and frequently communicated with the team, either expressing her pride in their efforts or encouraging excitement for upcoming events. Overall, she aimed to foster a positive experience. Other captains and herself have observed significant improvements in the emotional well-being of many team members this year, as they seem to handle losses better and maintain a more positive outlook.
