The Huntington High School girls’ fencing team turned in its strongest season in many years and it appears the best is still yet to come.
The Blue Devil girls were very competitive this winter despite fielding a team dominated by underclassman. Huntington captured seventh place overall in last weekend’s Section XI fencing championships at Newfield.
Suffolk Girls' Coach of the Year Michelle O'Brien with Lindenhurst's Joe Bordonaro, who won boys' coach of year honors.
“All of the coaches are extremely proud of each athlete’s performance and sportsmanship,” said Huntington head coach Michelle O’Brien, who was named Suffolk Girls’ Coach of the Year in a vote by the county’s fencers. “The team won approximately 30 percent more bouts than they did at the 2019 championships, which reflects their hard work this season.”
Individual accolades included:
Junior Adora Colay: sabre
- Honorable Mention All-County (won 59 percent of her bouts in the county championships)
- 2 nd Team All-League (won 61 percent of her bouts in league competition)
Sophomore Ally Kustera: sabre - weapon captain
- Honorable Mention All-County (54 percent)
- Honorable Mention All-League (55 percent)
Senior Josie Fasolino: foil - weapon captain:
- 2 nd Team All-County (7 percent)
- 1 st Team All-League (81 percent)
Sophomore Maddy Bavaro: foil
- Honorable Mention All-League (53 percent)
Junior Aileen Lopez: epee - weapon captain:
- Honorable Mention All-County (60 percent)
The Blue Devil girls’ squad has really stepped up its game, fencing during the off-season, attending summer camp and training throughout the year.
O’Brien is assisted by Vin O’Garra (boys) and Burke Tomaselli (girls). The Huntington girls appear well-positioned to make further competitive advancements next winter with the entire starting lineup returning in all three “weapons” with the exception of Fasolino, who will be graduating in June.
“We had an amazing season this year,” Kustera said. “We increased our win percentage by 33 percent from last year. We got a new coach, Burke Tomaselli who pushed us to our full potential and encouraged us to rethink our strategies on the strip. Fencing is more than just a team; we're family.
