While not widely known, Cardozo’s fencing team continues to make a name for themselves among their competitors. On Oct. 24, the boys’ fencing team faced off against Jamaica High School in an exciting home match.
The competition was intense, especially considering Jamaica’s experience against Cardozo’s rivals. However, as always, Cardozo prevailed. For those unfamiliar with fencing, our school has two types of teams: foil and épée. One is more strategic, while the other follows straightforward rules based on who lands the first hit.
The match began with the foil event, led by our captain, Joseph Cha. He provided a strong start, but as points on the opposing side began to even out, tension mounted due to Jamaica’s aggressive style. Nevertheless, our team maintained their composure and forged ahead, securing 45 points in foil and winning the first half of the match.
Next came the épée event, where Jamaica continued their aggressive tactics. Despite this, our épée team pushed forward, taking calculated risks to secure points. The competition was intense, but Cardozo demonstrated resilience and strategic prowess.
In the end, despite facing challenges throughout the match, the Cardozo boys’ fencing team claimed victory with a total of 90 points.
After the match, we spoke with both teams about their experiences. Coach Skolnick commented, “At first, I was a little disappointed in their tactics, but in the second half, we performed well, showing resilience.”
Captain Joseph Cha added, “It went pretty well; we won all our bouts in épée. I was really proud of the team for bouncing back after a rough start.”
The opposing team, Jamaica, echoed similar sentiments. Coach Ben Deleon remarked, “It was a good match. We started strong with an early lead but ultimately couldn’t hold on.”
Jamaica fencer Tyrese Narain expressed the intensity of the competition, stating, “The matches were intense. I thought it would be easy, but I was challenged much more than I expected.”
The Cardozo fencing team was definitely pushed to their limits in this match, keeping all who attended on the edge of their seats. In the end, Cardozo definitely cheered the most, and it was well-deserved.
