The fencing team ended one of its most successful seasons in recent years, placing second overall at the Great Lakes Conference Team Championships on Feb. 1. Additionally, the boys épée team claimed first place, marking a significant achievement for the team. The boys foil team also had a strong showing, finishing in second place.
Co-captain ZC Findler, a senior, believes this season stands out as one of the strongest in comparison to previous years, emphasizing the team’s growth.
“Last year, we placed seventh at the team championships, and the year before that we placed eighth,” ZC said. “This year, moving up to second place really shows how much we’ve grown.”
Throughout the season, the team had strong individual performances across multiple competitions. ZC consistently placed in the top eight, even breaking into the top four at one event. Seniors Ben O’Donnell and Tate Nguyen also had a strong season, finishing top four at multiple competitions. Additionally, ninth grader Ella Nguyen placed first in multiple competitions throughout the season.
Beyond competitions, ZC believes that the team has become much closer this season, creating a supportive environment that contributed to their success. He and co-captain Angela Wong, a junior, have fenced together for years, playing a key role in strengthening the team’s bond.
“This year, we’ve been a lot more involved and closer as a team overall,” ZC said. “Angela and I have been friends for a while, and we both love fencing, so that really helped improve things around the team.”
With this season marking a major step for the program, the team hopes to continue building on this momentum in the coming years.
“I would say that it’s been one of the best seasons that I’ve had throughout the four years. We definitely improved a lot more and brought in a lot more results this year,” ZC said.
