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04/06/2022 12:00 AMIn her first year competing in the sport, Ayla Sivri made a big-time impact with the North Haven fencing program by winning 25 matches as a sophomore. As she succeeded on the strip, Ayla enjoyed doing so alongside a dedicated collection of Nighthawks’ fencers.
Ayla wanted to participate in a winter sport this year and was looking to try something new. She had some friends on the fencing team and was intrigued by the idea of joining. Fencing was a completely new endeavor for Ayla, but the sport quickly became a passion for the sophomore.
“It was a new thing for me. I didn’t know what to expect. It just seemed very interesting to me,” says Ayla. “It was something I really wanted to be involved in. I was interested in the sport itself and the art of it. It was one of the best decisions I could have made.”
Ayla says that she was a “ball of nerves” when she first stepped foot on the fencing strip. Ayla had no idea what was in store for her, but North Haven’s coaches worked with her to help her learn fundamentals of the sport. While the practices were rigorous, the experience pushed Ayla to improve and build her confidence as a fencer. Ayla also had her friends and family in her corner to support her every step of the way during her new fencing journey.
Ayla finished with a record of 25-12 in her first year with the North Haven fencing program. Every time that she picked up a win, Ayla felt like she had reached a new checkpoint in her progression and was growing stronger. When Ayla saw her record at the end of the year, she realized how far she had come.
“I felt very accomplished as a person and an athlete,” Ayla says. “It made me feel good about myself and my ability.”
Ayla competes as an épée fencer with the Nighthawks. While she hoped to start with foil, Ayla gained an appreciation for the strategy involved in épée and how it taught her to be more patient. Now, Ayla feels confident competing in épée and is glad that Head Coach Jim Harris recommended it to her.
“Épée was actually my second choice. I didn’t expect to be an épée, but I honestly really love it,” says Ayla. “Now knowing what the three weapons are, if I had to choose, I would choose épée. I think it suits me the best, and I’m pretty good at it.”
Ayla finished in third place for the épée competition when North Haven hosted the JV Tournament in January. Later in the season, she earned All-CCC First Team honors and also received Academic All-Conference recognition when the Nighthawks competed at Connecticut Coast Conference Championships. To finish out her season, Ayla hit the strip for North Haven at the Individual State Championships.
As she looked around, Ayla saw many of her family and friends, including her father Adam, watch her compete in the state meet. That gave Ayla a great sense of pride and also made her feel like she was now truly a fencer.
“I’m proud of all I overcame this season and getting to Individual States. I felt the support of my team, my friends, and my father, who was there,” Ayla says. “It was like a cherry on top for the season. It was the last big event of my first year of fencing. It made me realize how much I overcame and how much I improved as a fencer.”
Coach Harris was impressed how much Ayla improved during her first season with team. Harris says that the sophomore is fearless on the strip and has a bright future ahead of her in the sport of fencing.
“Even as a novice fencer, Ayla brought a fearlessness to the team that the rest of the squad fed off of. She leaves everything out on the strip when she fences,” says Harris. “We’re very excited to see what she can do next year with a full year of competition under her belt.”
Ayla participated in soccer and basketball prior to taking up fencing. She has also done taekwondo. While she has to rely on herself while competing, Ayla says that her first year with the Nighthawks provided the type of family atmosphere that she hadn’t seen in other sports.
“I’ve played two sports in the past, and they cannot compare to the unity and family feeling I have with fencing. I saw the fencing team as one big family,” Ayla says. “It’s kind of ironic. There’s only one person on the strip. But I felt united as ever as a team. That feeling of unity really helped me prosper.”
As she continues through the North Haven fencing program, Ayla hopes to keep growing as a leader and run for team captain as a senior. She also wants to continue sharpening her skills and become a well-rounded fencer for North Haven.
After just one year of competing, Ayla is all-in on fencing and looks forward to her next two seasons with the Nighthawks. Ayla feels happy that she’s found her new favorite sport while working with an encouraging group of teammates and coaches.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be where I am with the team. I love them so much,” says Ayla. “It’s a great experience, and I’m honored to be on this team.”