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01/11/2023 05:28 PMThe high school fencing community is one that is consistently growing but is also constantly tight-knit, allowing many fellow fencers to instill knowledge of the game into their younger teammates. That’s precisely what Anna Ferrucci adores about the sport, and she has certainly made that evident as a leader at Hand.
The junior first started in sports with soccer at five years old, and she continues to play on the pitch for the Tigers as a left-wing back on defense–helping Hand notch a 13-2-1 record in 2022. Following placing fifth at the Individual State Championships on the fencing strip last winter to earn herself All-State Team distinction, Anna was part of the first-ever girls’ sabre team state crown in the program’s history. She is now back again for the Tigers this campaign, serving as a team captain for the sabre squad.
“I entered high school and wanted to try something different, and I just love the people, the community, and the sport itself,” says Anna on fencing. “A lot of my success came from the help of others on the team. I love that the varsity fencers will help the freshmen and novice fencers with how to fence. We have about 50 people on the team, so a lot of teaching fencing comes from older kids helping the younger ones. When I was younger, I kept asking the returning fencers for help and advice, which I found helpful.”
Due to the pandemic, the postseason last year was Anna’s first instance of the strip’s big stage. She notes she was understandably anxious, but her emotions were soothed and eased by her own confidence, teammates, and natural abilities.
“Solo states was pretty nerve racking, but the team was super supportive and helpful,” Anna says. “The tournament was scary, but it went OK. Physically, it was really challenging; it is multiple hours of exertion. Sabre takes a lot of energy, and I experienced how exhausting it really is.”
Moving to the Team phase of the state championships, Anna felt a little more at ease on her and the Tigers’ path to history. After she avenged an earlier loss in the Round of Four, Anna and Hand were happy to face a close friend and rival school for the crown.
“Team States was a lot more relaxed for me, because I was competing with my teammates and it was more of a joint effort,” Anna says. “The semifinals were the most nerve racking. I faced a girl from Hopkins that eliminated me at solo states. I won my match, and then the finals were less stressful. We faced Guilford and are very close with them, and so we were happy to see them in the final. Both teams did a really good job, and it was exciting to be the first girls’ sabre team to win states.”
Anna adds that it is truly mind over matter more often than not with the sport of fencing, and she says that it can be unnerving when the spotlight is on her athleticism, yet she is continuously pushing past the pressure.
“Fencing is as much a mental sport as it is physical,” says Anna. “My mental game has improved, but it is not perfect. I get anxious when I feel I am being judged or things depend on my performance, but I have gotten better at managing that. My team and coaches have helped me with that.”
Hand fencing Head Coach Michael Ginsburg praises Anna for her individual progress within the sport and her discipline, in addition to how she has so fully embraced her leadership role as a team captain.
“Anna joined the fencing team three years ago as a freshman during the pandemic. Fast forward to this year, and she was elected one of our junior captains for the sabre team by her peers,” says Ginsburg. “She has truly taken the leadership and responsibility of being a captain to heart. Anna is constantly working with our newer fencers, supporting them, and sharing what she has learned. I am excited to see what the next two years will bring for Anna, not so much in terms of winning percentages or titles, but how much more she will continue to grow as a fencer, a leader, and an overall integral member of our fencing community.”
Anna always aspired to be a captain for the Tigers, though not for the reasons of fame, name, or prestige. She knows how crucial past captains were to her prominence, and so she wants to deliver the same impact to her younger peers.
“Since I joined the team, I wanted to be a captain, but not for the power or title,” says Anna. “I looked up to my past captains so much; they were always there for me. I want to be someone people could come to for help. I love the team, and I want to give people the same type of captains I had in the past.”
While she has a sound grip of where she wants her professional career to go, Anna is still fiercely focused on this upcoming season and hopes to add to her personal and Tigers’ team trophy cases.
“I want to go to college for mechanical engineering; it is something I have always wanted to do,” Anna says. “For fencing, I want to strive to beat myself and finish higher in Individual States than I did last year. We want to win Team States again for girls’ sabre and win the overall team state title.”