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03/12/2014 12:00 AMGuilford fencing headed into the Team State Championships at home on March 8 with a favorable chance to claim some titles and the Indians struck gold three times.
After earning three top and two second-place seeds among the six competitions based on their performances at the Individual State Championships the week prior, the host Indians took home both the girls' épée and foil state crowns to also lock up the overall girls' state championship for Guilford-its second in three years.
"Team states was a perfect end to the best part of my high school career-the fencing team," said senior captain and foil competitor Charlotte Killiam. "I am so proud of the entire team and grateful to the girls for being my family and inspiration."
The two titles won by the girls' épée and foil groups were also the second top finishes at states for those disciplines since 2012. Guilford had plenty of other terrific efforts on the day as the boys' foil finished runner-up to Greenwich, the girls' sabre took third, and the boys' sabre finished fourth.
"I am so proud to be on the Guilford fencing team. Especially today, every teammate fought with skill, passion, and heart for every touch," said junior sabre competitor Sophie Kaplan. "I look forward to another great season with this great team."
For the girls' épée tournament, in which Guilford was seeded first, the Indians found themselves down 4-2 before winning three straight tallies to claim their championship against Hopkins while they bested Green Farms Academy (5-4) and Fitch (5-3) in prior matchups. With the girls' foil action, the top-seeded Indians defeated Ledyard 5-1 and North Haven by a 5-4 margin before a final victory over Hand, 5-2.
"For the foil, the girls showed an equal combination of senior leadership and youthful enthusiasm," said Head Coach Kyle Mezzi. "They've been working hard all season long and have been getting the results so they are also confident and that goes a long way. With the épée, they really worked hard for first and I'm really proud of all the kids. Winning the overall girls' title is a testament to all the hard work they put in all season long. It's tough at states because you have three separate squads competing at the same time, but it was a great day all-around. They supported each other and kept on fighting."
Moving to the girls' sabre, a newer weapon to high school fencing, Guilford (seeded second to Greenwich entering the day) took a first round bye prior to a 5-3 semifinal loss versus Hopkins, but it gathered the strength to rebound for another victory against North Haven, 5-3, to clinch its third-place performance.
"They lost that semifinal match, but they kept fighting for third place," said Mezzi. "I am absolutely proud of them because it's tough to earn those seeds the week before and then live up to them."
On the boys' side, the No. 1-ranked foil team took its first pair of matches rather easily, prevailing 5-0 facing Hopkins and 5-1 versus Norwich Free Academy, although it fell to second-seeded Greenwich in the championship clash, 5-2.
"Our performance in states exemplifies the immense effort our entire team put forth today and this year and shows us exactly what we need to improve on," said foil member Jack Davidson. "Next year, we'll be prepared to go even further."
For the boys' sabre group (coming in ranked No. 2), it reached the semifinal round of play after a 5-0 shutout of East Lyme prior to a pair of losses to Hopkins and Fairfield, yet Mezzi again expressed pride toward his fourth-place team.
"Again, sabre is one of the newer disciplines in high school fencing, but they've all put in the effort toward learning it and kept on fighting today," said Mezzi. "They came out fighting in their first match, as well."
The Indians had several All-State Team members after the Individual State Championships. First Team members were Kyle Evered (finishing second in foil), Laurel Zhang (third for foil), Bronwyn Reeve (third for épée), and Killiam (fourth for foil). Second Team fencers included Kate McNamara (fifth for sabre), Davidson (seventh for foil), Kaplan (seventh for sabre), Zach O'Conner (eighth for sabre), and Henry Wall (eighth for foil).
As each of the five disciplines that represented Guilford earned fourth place or better, Mezzi added that he couldn't be happier for this program and the efforts it put forth for its success.
"They all really stayed focused today," said Mezzi. "It was a great day for everyone and everyone was on point. I couldn't be more proud for them."