Columbia High Fencers Continue to Make Their Mark

The following was submitted by the Essex County Freeholders:

The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently honored the Columbia High School’s state champion girls and boys fencing teams.

Both teams finished their seasons undefeated, ranked No. 1 in New Jersey, and named by The Star-Ledger as the state’s teams of the year. The boys’ sabre squad was also acknowledged for winning the squad state championship for the second year in a row. The board’s commendations were presented to representatives of the teams by Freeholder Carol Clark, of East Orange, Freeholder Gerald Owens, of South Orange, and Freeholder Vice President Patricia Sebold, of Livingston.

“2014 has been a very good year for fencing at Columbia High School," Freeholder Clark said. "By winning the girls’ and boys’ team championships, and by both teams finishing their seasons undefeated seasons, ranked No. 1 in the state, and named the ‘Teams of the Year’ by The Star-Ledger, Columbia has proven yet again that it is the epicenter of fencing excellence in New Jersey.” 

"As I look out at these fencers, I am looking at the definition of ‘perfection’, and this year you’ve put an exclamation point at the end of the title, ‘Columbia High School: The Fencing Capital of New Jersey," she said.

The girls team won its state championship on Feb. 26 when it defeated Bernards High, 14-13, to finish the season undefeated with a perfect record of 13-0.  Preceding that match, the team first defeated Voorhees (16-11), Governor Livingston (15-12), and then Livingston (17-10).

This year’s state championship was the program’s second title in the last three years, and its 11th since 1998.  The Cougars also won the District 3 Championship on Jan. 26 and the championship of the prestigious Santelli Tournament on Jan. 4.

The team’s accomplishments were recognized by The Star-Ledger when it was declared the “2014 Girls Fencing Team of the Year," by its final ranking as the No. 1 team in New Jersey, and by the naming of Samantha Viqueira to the First Team All-State, Blessing Olaode to the Second Team All-State and Marissa Viqueira to the Third Team All-State.

The team was comprised of seniors Alexandra Viqueira, Lane Williams, Najiyyah Clark, Joelle Santos and Nina Kambili; juniors Blessing Olaode, Celia Accardi and Charlotte Cramer; sophomores Natalie Martinez, Samantha Viqueira, Brigid Lynch and Abigail Merelman; and freshmen Marissa Viqueira and Camille Pham.

The boys team also won its state championship on Feb. 26, when it defeated Ridge, 17-10, and like the girls team, finished its season undefeated as well, 14-0. Leading up to the championship match, the Cougars first defeated Northern Highlands (19-8), Montclair (15-12), and then Ramapo (16-11).

This year’s state championship was the second consecutive and fourth in the last five years for the Columbia High School boys fencing program. It also captured its fifth straight District 3 Championship on Jan. 26. The team also captured the championship of the prestigious Cetrulo Tournament for the third straight year on Jan. 15, its fourth title in the last five years; its fifth straight District 3 Championship on Jan. 26 and at the Squad State Championships on Feb. 22, the Sabre Squad captured the state championship.

The team’s accomplishments were recognized by The Star-Ledger when it was declared the “2014 Boys Fencing Team of the Year," a distinction it also earned in 2013, 2011 and 2010, and by its final ranking as the No. 1 team in New Jersey.  The team was further recognized by the naming of Andrew Doddo, Bryn Hammarberg and Max Gould to the First Team All-State.

The team was comprised of the following members: seniors Ethan Hein, Jared Lebron, John Kirk, Basile Antoine, Elijah Leung, Bryn Hammarberg, Max Gould, Ravi Cho, Harrison Clarke and Matt Van Duesen-Gross; juniors Gordon Rutledge, Jake Thomas, Jack Goldberg and Kiichi Sakai; and sophomores Andrew Doddo and Harrison Woods.

The Boys Sabre Squad won its second consecutive title on Feb. 22, and was comprised of junior Gordon Rutledge and sophomores Andrew Doddo and Harrison Woods, but they were unable to attend the presentations due to previous commitments at school.

“As a South Orange resident, I am so happy to recognize the talent of these outstanding young people," Freeholder Owens said. "I admit I wasn’t all that familiar with the sport before moving here, but in light of the amazing success at Columbia, I’ve certainly become a fan. Your hard work has really paid off and you have made your families, your school, your towns and the entire county very proud, and especially this freeholder."

The Columbia High fencers were guided by head coaches Daryl White and Ibtihaj Muhammad and assistant coaches Sam Varon and Tiffini Austin Ginlock.

“At the beginning of the year, we challenged the teams to win state championships, and they went out and did exactly what we asked them to do," White said, “because I believe these two teams will go down in Columbia High School history as two of the best ever.” 

“No matter how hard I worked them in practice, they just wanted to be challenged even more, and that’s a tribute to them as athletes."