Rebels fencing secures both boys and girls Long Island Championship
On Monday, March 25, the Great Neck South High School girls and boys fencing teams were recognized for their hard work this season that led both teams to secure the Nassau County Championship and Long Island Championship.
Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip invited the teams to the Nassau County Legislature Building to present each player with a Nassau County Legislature Citation honoring their dedication to the team and a successful season.
Great Neck South High School Athletic Director Don Herr, Boy’s coach Joshua Baravarian and Girl’s Coach Catie Sagevick joined the boys and girls fencing teams to celebrate their championship recognition.
“It is with great pride and joy that I was able to honor and congratulate the Great Neck South boys and girls fencing teams for their outstanding performance this season and clinching the prestigious title of Long Island champions at a recent meeting of the Full Legislature,” said Legislator Pilip. “This victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication, hard work, and sheer determination exhibited by each member of both teams.”
In early February, Great Neck North High School hosted the Nassau County boys and girls fencing title where both Great Neck South teams faced Syosset High School’s teams.
According to Cole McDonnell’s reporting of the game for the Great Neck Record, Great Neck South High School girls team came back from a 13-11 deficit to beat Syosset High School. They captured their sixth straight title in a back-and-forth affair where neither team had higher than a three-point lead.
Great Neck went up 11-8 anticipating an easy path to clinch the game but Syosset ripped off five straight wins taking a 13-11 lead, retaking the momentum Great Neck worked to secure.
Great Neck tied the game 13-13 and Justina Hom won the final match-up against Rhea Sood of Syosset 5-3 to take home the title, capping off an undefeated season. This was the sixth consecutive title for the girls.
The Great Neck South boys game followed the intensity of the girls with a 14-13 finish after an extra-time win from Justin Chou over Syosset’s Taranjot Bambara. They were tied up 3-3 and needed a minute of extra time to determine the Nassau boys fencing champions. Great Neck South Boys team won.
“This year was an amazing experience for the teams,” said Coach Baravarian. “For the boys, we had won counties in 2021 and 2022. But then ran into a tremendously talented Syosset team last year and lost. Then we graduated five starters that year and were definitely the underdog this season. We knew we’d be up against a heavily favored Syosset team in the finals this year. But, we are not a team that cares about the odds. We are a team full of heart, determination, and confidence in our teammates to get the job done no matter the odds.”
Both teams went on to the Long Island Championship matches that took place in mid-February at Brentwood High School.
Great Neck South girls fencing defeated Ward Melville High School of East Setauket, 14-12. The boys team beat Newfield High School of Selden, 14-11.
According to the Great Neck Public School District, “This is the first time in Nassau County history that one school has won both titles in the same season. This is the first Long Island Championship for the South High Girls Fencing team, led by Coach Sagevick, capping off an undefeated season and the team’s sixth-consecutive Nassau County title. This is the second Long Island Championship for the South High Boys Fencing team, led by Coach Baravarian, as the team regained the title they last won in 2022.”
Congratulations To The Great Neck South Boys And Girls Fencing Teams
Boys Fencing Team
Coach Joshua Baravarian
Matthew Liu
Preston Hom
Jason Wang
Brandon Reed
Jun Ahn
Dylan Kim
Justin Jiu
Qinrui Zhang
Ethan Lee
Ryan Cheung
Eric Board
Benson Chou
Max Tse
Amir Karimov
Ryan Zhang
Casper Wang
Girls Fencing Team
Coach Catie Sagevick
Alyssa Wong
Lauren Chen
Dana Li
Bella Shi
Josephine Wong
Ella Leung
Anglea Wu
Siying Chen
Francie Xia
Laura Zhang
Annabelle Qi
Kira Nguyen
Avery Ko
Justina Hom
Ashley Nguyen
Michelle Wu
Audrey Gao
Rebecca Xu
Kristy Li
