Sports
Ramapo Fencing Posts Comeback Victory
Boys were down as much as 9-5 before 14-13 (14-11) win over Wayne Hills
Ramapo High School's boys fencing squad came from behind Tuesday to beat Wayne Hills High School, 14-13 (14-11).
The Raiders started off the meet by posting victories, going ahead 3-0 on sabreists' wins. But Wayne Hills would race out to a quick 6-3 lead after beating all three Ramapo foilists and all three Raider epeeists by large touch counts.
In the second round, the sabre squad went 2-1, leaving Wayne Hills ahead 7-5. Things got even worse for the Raiders after the first two second-round foilists went down to defeat, as well, putting Ramapo behind 9-5.
Find out what's happening in Wyckofffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Foilist Patrick Lin was able to stop the bleeding, though, with a 5-4 squeaker over Hills' top foilist. The spectators who left assuming a Hills victory didn't see the boys win the next seven bouts to bring the score to 12-9 Ramapo. Hills came back to win two matches in the third round, but Lin again came through, posting a win to leave Ramapo one bout away from victory at 13-11.
The Raiders would clinch the meet with Sam Judd, who had been substituted into the match in the second round. Judd delivered a decisive 5-2 win to clinch the 14-11 win.
Find out what's happening in Wyckofffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Ramapo sabreists went 8-1. Overall team captain, senior Gaspar Lesznik, delivered three overpowering victories, 5-0, 5-0, 5-1. Squad captain Charles Copti was just as impressive with three victories won 5-0, 5-1, 5-1. Junior Josh Chang delivered the final two wins for the sabre squad with impressive 5-1 and 5-2 scores.
Ramapo epeeists went 4-5. Judd, a sophomore, led the squad with a 2-0 record. Squad captain and senior Kevin Kim and sophomore Scott Zellers contributed one victory each.
Foilists, who fenced without their squad captain, Chris Manobianco, and with starter Tyler Clarke unable to fence more than one bout because of a cold, went 2-7 against a much more experienced Wayne Hills squad. In addition to his second-round victory, Lin got even stronger in the third round with a 5-0 score against his opponent.
Ramapo's next competition is a quad meet against Mendham, Hackettstown and Governor Livingston at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 28 at Columbia Middle School in Berkeley Heights.
Editor's note: Paul Apostol is the coach of the boys fencing team at Ramapo High School.
