The Mendham High School Fencing Team seeks to build upon an impressive third year as it begins its fourth season. The program had humble beginnings three years ago with much enthusiasm. The girls’ team had one win and the boys team none in the first year. In the second year there was tremendous progress with the girls 6-6 and the boys 5-7. Last year was the breakout season for the team with the girls 10-2 and ranked third in the State and the boys 8-4 and ranked in the top ten in the State. With much hard work in the off season by many team members, they are looking to build on this success.
The team continues to be coached by Laura Pelizzoni, who has generated enormous enthusiasm for the program. She is supported by three volunteer assistants who have considerable fencing experience: Tom Tishman, who once trained with the Olympic team, Dr. Steve Dultz who fences all three weapons, and Meimee Persau, who has fenced foil.
Leading the girls’ team is Janelle Krannich, captain of the saber squad. Janelle is a D rated fencer in foil, the only team member who is nationally ranked and was second team all State last year. She will be supported by new starters E rated fencer Julia Melvin and Genele Streitz.
The foil squad should be strong, led by Shannon Cooley and E rated foil fencer Ryan Western. Alice Jacobson who was a strong part of the squad last year rounds out the starting trio.
The entire starting epee squad from last year has graduated. New varsity ans starting fencers are Kimberly Morsch, Alexis Grant and freshman Megan Wallace.
The boys team has several returning rated fencers, with at least one at each weapon.
The saber squad boasts two rated fencers. Chris Bonner is a D rated saber fencer who has been very active in the off season and should have a major impact on the team’s success. Brian Stellingwerf is an E rated fencer and returning starter from last season. They will be joined as starters for the varsity by Will Bruno.
The foil squad also has a strong foundation with two rated fencers. Andy Jung is a C rated foil fencer – the second highest rated fencer on the team. And foil squad leader Michael Striano is a D rated fencer. Both return from outstanding seasons last year. They are joined on the starting team by Adam Brozynski.
Salim Short heads the epee squad. Salim is a B rated fencer – the highest rated fencer on the team and has the top position or A strip in epee for the third consecutive season. He is joined by starters Tim Hains and Hao Du.
Each team will have challenges. The girls’ team lost two top fencers Jill Mahen and Jess Wallace to graduation and their loss will be felt. Janelle Krannich has enjoyed tremendous success in the off season and she will be looking to help lead this year’s team to similar success.
The boys’ team has some very stiff competition in its conference and district including a number of perennial powers starting with State Champion Columbia High School and the previous year’s State Champion Bernards High School. The boys’ team has five rated fencers – Short, Jung, Bonner, Striano and Stellingwerf. Still, it will need support from all other members of its squads if it seeks to improve upon last year’s top ten rating.
That the teams are even in a position to seek such success in only the fourth season is the result of the effort of Coach Pelizzoni and a very knowledgeable and supportive trio of assistant coaches.
The team continues to be coached by Laura Pelizzoni, who has generated enormous enthusiasm for the program. She is supported by three volunteer assistants who have considerable fencing experience: Tom Tishman, who once trained with the Olympic team, Dr. Steve Dultz who fences all three weapons, and Meimee Persau, who has fenced foil.
Leading the girls’ team is Janelle Krannich, captain of the saber squad. Janelle is a D rated fencer in foil, the only team member who is nationally ranked and was second team all State last year. She will be supported by new starters E rated fencer Julia Melvin and Genele Streitz.
The foil squad should be strong, led by Shannon Cooley and E rated foil fencer Ryan Western. Alice Jacobson who was a strong part of the squad last year rounds out the starting trio.
The entire starting epee squad from last year has graduated. New varsity ans starting fencers are Kimberly Morsch, Alexis Grant and freshman Megan Wallace.
The boys team has several returning rated fencers, with at least one at each weapon.
The saber squad boasts two rated fencers. Chris Bonner is a D rated saber fencer who has been very active in the off season and should have a major impact on the team’s success. Brian Stellingwerf is an E rated fencer and returning starter from last season. They will be joined as starters for the varsity by Will Bruno.
The foil squad also has a strong foundation with two rated fencers. Andy Jung is a C rated foil fencer – the second highest rated fencer on the team. And foil squad leader Michael Striano is a D rated fencer. Both return from outstanding seasons last year. They are joined on the starting team by Adam Brozynski.
Salim Short heads the epee squad. Salim is a B rated fencer – the highest rated fencer on the team and has the top position or A strip in epee for the third consecutive season. He is joined by starters Tim Hains and Hao Du.
Each team will have challenges. The girls’ team lost two top fencers Jill Mahen and Jess Wallace to graduation and their loss will be felt. Janelle Krannich has enjoyed tremendous success in the off season and she will be looking to help lead this year’s team to similar success.
The boys’ team has some very stiff competition in its conference and district including a number of perennial powers starting with State Champion Columbia High School and the previous year’s State Champion Bernards High School. The boys’ team has five rated fencers – Short, Jung, Bonner, Striano and Stellingwerf. Still, it will need support from all other members of its squads if it seeks to improve upon last year’s top ten rating.
That the teams are even in a position to seek such success in only the fourth season is the result of the effort of Coach Pelizzoni and a very knowledgeable and supportive trio of assistant coaches.
6 comments:
Dude I looked up fencing on wikipedia the other day cause I knew little about it and it seemed interesting. I think I left more confused then when I started out. Good on you for writing such an article.
Now, how about a "fencing 101" article?
On a more serious note, though, any time there is more opportunity to expand U.S. chance of succeeding in an olympic sport, I am all for it.
here is a good article from the United States Fencing Assn re fencing. fencing is often referred to as physical chess, a sport where the fencer is constantly making mental adjustments to what his opponent is doing. while in a sense this is true of all sports, it in many ways defines the art of fencing.
http://www.usfencing.org/usfa/content/view/1569/108/
janelle, julia, and genele all fence sabre, not foil.
who caress about fencingg
Who cares? It's an olympic sport fella...I would say lots of folks do.
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