Ridge Boys Fencing Stabs Their Way to Crown
The score is 13-13. The gymnasium is filled with complete silence as the final bout between Ridge epee fencer Felix Yin and Columbia High School’s Sam Gomberg intensifies. Beep: the red light goes off on the Ridge side on the scoring machine. They have won.
The Ridge High School Boys Fencing team won the state championship for the first time since 2009. Last year, the boy’s team climbed their way up to the same championship match, yet was defeated by the undefeated championship team, Columbia. However, this year, Ridge was more than prepared to avenge themselves and defeat the same opponent. They indeed succeeded and won the title!
The Ridge sabre squad performed their best throughout the night, while the Ridge foil squad blew all expectations away by winning all nine of their bouts. The epee squad also secured five crucial bouts, including the last bout that featured Felix Yin.
Jason Choy, a new assistant coach for the Ridge fencing team and a sabre fencer who graduated from Ridge in 2009, remarks, “The Ridge fencing team really showed that they deserved the state title this year. They worked hard for it from the beginning of the season and it really paid off. I’m glad that was able to help and [to] be a part of this talented team.”
The season ended with a 16-0 record that topped every other team’s record in the state; the head coach Jun Shen will be returning for the 2016 season to help the team win another potential championship title.
The new captain, Alex Wang’ 16, states, “I am very excited for the upcoming season, and we will be training harder and become even better fencers than we are now. I cannot wait for the season and I definitely believe that we can earn another title.”
Ridge Track Team Never Fails
The Ridge Boys Track Team won its first title at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 2 Groups 1 and 4 Championship. Coach Mooney was very proud of everyone’s performance and their individual achievements.
Several runners performed beyond expectations with outstanding results: Will Phinney, Andrew McGowan, who won the 1,600 and secured the third spot in the 3,200, and Alex Schraer, who won the first title in Group 4, 67-44.
The Ridge Girls Track Team also performed outstandingly as they again earned the championship at the same competition. Ridge runners dominated the competition with a score of 96 to 50. Of course, senior runners performed amazingly with new records. In the Group 4 competition, Ridge took the lead in 1600 run as senior Liz Newman won the 1,600; Abigail Regner came in second, and Regan Arsay earned her personal best score of the season.
The Winter Track Team ended on a high note and the team is more than excited to start their spring season and to earn more titles for Ridge!