Boys’ Épée Fencers Charge their Way to Gold

For the second consecutive year, the Stuyvesant boys’ fencing team, the Cobras, have demonstrated their resilience and excellence, becoming épée champs. The team’s consistent performances have cemented them as fencing powerhouses, even amidst injuries and the departure of star players.

In order to truly appreciate the team’s remarkable season, it is essential to understand the format of the scoring system. There are two distinct weapons used, the foil and the épée. Points are decided by how many touches (instances of contact between the tip of the weapon and the opponent) each player makes. There are typically nine bouts in a game and two games in a match. The first to reach five touches wins the bout and a total of 45 touches is needed to win a game.

Season Challenges and Resilience

The start of the season was far from ideal for the Cobras. The departure of previous star fencer Jacob Guo, along with many previous fencers, left immense gaps of talent for the team to fill. Yet, the Cobras rose to the occasion, practicing just as consistently and experimenting with new strategies that allowed them to remain a serious contender within the league. 

Most notably, senior captain Andy Xian played a major role in the success of the team, extending his support beyond practice. “My role as co-captain is really more than just leading practices, drills, and representing the team at tournaments. It was about bringing the joy of the sport. I strived to be the glue of the team, ensuring everyone not only improved as fencers but grew as a family,” Xian said. 

Going into the season opener with an improved sense of chemistry, the Cobras started the season on a high note, securing a win and three additional top-ten placements. This amazing performance was led by senior captains Xian and Max Borisov, along with junior James Clare and senior Anthony Yao. 

One of the greatest setbacks in the season was when Xian sprained his ankle. “One major injury this season was when I sprained my ankle during nationals in October, just as the season was gaining momentum. The pain in my coach’s eyes when I told him I’d be out for a solid three weeks was almost palpable. We had important games coming up, like against Beacon, but I’m incredibly proud of how my team pulled through and stayed strong,” Xian said. Despite the looming uncertainty of the team's future, his fellow teammates remained resilient, winning their match against Beacon despite the absence of a key player. 

Along with taking bronze in PSAL, the team secured a first place finish in épée at Team Invitationals and was crowned the 2024/25 Épée Champions, a remarkable accomplishment.  

Individual Success

While the Cobras excelled as a team, there were many brilliant individual performances throughout the season, particularly within the épée division. Xian and Borisov were cornerstones of the team, consistently leading with example in both training and meets. Xian secured first in Openers, second in individuals, and second in invitationals this year, whilst Borisov trailed closely behind with a multitude of top-five finishes. Clare also emerged as a rising star, securing a top-four finish in the season opener. “On the strip, he played a crucial role in helping us become épée champs. Off the strip, he is a co-armorer who has helped the team fix countless blades and equipment,” Xian said in regards to Clare’s impact. 

Outside of the épée division, the Cobras still found notable success in the foil division. At the season opener, they recorded two top-10 finishes along with two top-20 finishes. Junior foil fencer Henry Woodcock stood out, consistently winning numerous crucial bouts. Senior foil fencer David Jiang also delivered many exceptional performances throughout the season, most notably in a match against NEST+M where he dominated, holding his opponent to zero touches while scoring five touches multiple times. 

Building for the Future

Following an amazing set of performances from the Cobras this year, expectations are high for the upcoming players. But for many on the team, the building of a competitive team simultaneously requires the development of a strong supportive system. The newbies embody these values exceptionally well. “We welcomed seven newbies this year, and I am proud to say that each one of them has done amazingly well, whether it was excelling during games, winning medals at novice tournaments, or just overall upholding team spirit. The future of Stuyvesant fencing looks very bright,” Xian said. 

The departing seniors will leave behind a legacy of perseverance and connection. Their exceptional achievements light the way for the next generation of Cobras. With the unstoppable passion and unity of its players, the team is set to carve out an even greater future for many years to come.