Varsity Fencing Program Earns Silver in Epee at Cetrulo Tournament

The Ranney School Varsity Fencing team earned a silver medal in Epee and 10th place finish in Foil at the NJIFA’s 85th Cetrulo Memorial Championship hosted by Voorhees High School on Sunday, January 9, 2011.

A total of 45 schools, many significantly larger than Ranney, but certainly not better prepared, competed in the 12-hour statewide tournament in Glen Gardner, New Jersey. Faced with very competitive relay competitions, squads comprised of three fencers each squared off against one another in 15-touch matches.

While Ranney’s Foil squad comprised of Victor Gainor ’12 (Spring Lake), Jake Bassinder ’13 (Point Pleasant) and Thomas Hearne ’12 (Holmdel) saw a spectacular 10th place performance, its best Foil finish ever at the Cetrulo, “the Ranney Epee squad took the silver medal—a spectacular finish in this field of competitors, and a major accomplishment for Ranney athletics overall,” said Ranney’s fencing coach and manager of Atlantic Fencing Academy Agota Balot.

Although emerging undefeated in the morning round, the boys saw a hard-fought one-touch loss in overtime against Watchung Hills in the afternoon and fell 15-13 to Millburn High School during its last bout of the day. Ranney’s success in Epee during the event began with a fine performance by ‘C’ Fencer (5-touch) Thomas Florek ’11 (Colts Neck), who displayed great focus and set the pace for other Epee squad members to follow. Also demonstrating deep concentration was Ranney School ‘B’ Fencer (10-touch) Sam Tkach ’12 (Little Silver). Both Tkach and teammate Omar Sarhan ’12 (Ocean) are nationally ranked Cadets, quoted as “Fencers to Watch” in The Star Ledger’s December 2010 “NJ Boys Fencing: Season Preview.”

Aside from a great coaching staff, Ranney School believes that much of this season’s early success can be attributed to the many accomplishments of its fencers during the off-season as well.

Following a very successful 2009-2010 season, more than 50 percent of fencers from the squad qualified for events at Summer National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, and others qualified for the February 2010 Junior Olympics in Memphis, Tennessee. While in Memphis, Epeeists Sam Tkach, Omar Sarhan and Thomas Hearne also received Academic All-American Recognition Awards from the President of the U.S. Fencing Association. Tkach and Sarhan have competed at the international level as well.

Both participated in the elite European Cadet Circuit, with Tkach traveling to Modling, Austria and Sarhan competing in Gothenburg, Sweden. The European Cadet Circuit, very similar to the World Cup Circuit but meant for a younger age group, is limited to 20 fencers from each country. In order to qualify for the event, each fencer must be on the United States’ National points list, and be approved for participation by the United States Fencing Association.

In addition to the accomplishments of current Ranney fencers, Ranney’s Fencing Program has seen one alumnus continue his fencing career at the Division I University of Pennsylvania, and another leading the Middlebury Fencing Club. Under great instruction, many Ranney fencers have embraced the sport far beyond the season, driving the Varsity fencing program at Ranney to reach new and exciting heights.