Fencing Team Continues to Grow

This past Wednesday, the Aces fencing team hosted their first meet in the new gym. ICJA faced the toughest team in the Midwest High School Fencing Conference: New Trier. This was a great opportunity to face high level, fast-paced fencing. The Aces learned a great deal from the experience.

A few of the stand outs in Wednesday’s meet were freshman Roni Bell who stunned the Trevians with two victories. She was the top fencer in women’s saber. Masha Matten won one definitive 5-0 bout for the saber squad.

The women’s epee squad came out strong against New Trier but fell short of winning with several close bouts. Chani Shapiro earned her first competitive victory this meet. Also winning bouts for the epee squad were Julia Polster who won one and lost a close 5-4 bout. Tamar Dallal had two victories and another tight 5-4 loss. Senior Nava Wolgel won two and lost two heart-breaking 5-4 bouts. The Epee squad know that they have the physical ingredients to be a top-notch team, but we have to work on our mental toughness to get to that next level.

The girl’s foil team faced fierce competition from the New Trier squad. Team captain Dena Lebowitz won three decisive victories and one loss in the women’s foil encounter.

Tying Lebowitz’s record was men’s foil squad leader Shimon Stein, with three wins and a 5-3 loss. Also bringing in wins for the foil team were two fencers from other weapon squads who will be fencing foil for the remainder of the season. Josh Polster (epee) had two wins and two nail-biting 5-4 losses. Saber fencer Michael Julio Price won one bout.

The Ida Crown fencers have the talent and skill to beat these top level teams. The close bouts didn’t go our way and cost us squad victories, but the team will have a chance to bring up their mental game this Sunday against Highland Park, Deerfield and Brooks in our last home meet of the season. Good luck Aces!