The fencing team at Marian Catholic High School has been having success at various meets this season bringing home gold medals and other honors.
During a meet Nov. 9, Brazil McGruder, a junior, won the gold medal in women’s sabre at the DHP JV Individual Meet at Highland Park High School, defeating three Homewood-Flossmoor High fencers in a row along the way. Also, first-year fencer freshman Brian Patterson made it into the medal rounds, winning a fifth place medal in men’s epee at his second-ever high school competition.
The Marian team had significant success, with sabre Harold Kallies, a freshman, and epee Daniel Becerra, a sophomore, each missing out on medals by a single point loss in the round of 16.
At a Dec. 7 meet, Marian fencers faced off against the five schools in the Central Division of the Great Lakes High School Fencing Conference in Winnetka, Illinois. The men’s team went 3 and 2 with victories over Deerfield/Highland Park, Glenbrook, and Maine West. They were defeated in a close match against host New Trier with a 13-14 decision. The men’s overall record is now 4-4 with 6 more Conference opponents yet to fence.
Success continued when the Marian Catholic fencing team traveled to Culver Academy for the Culver Midwest High School Open on Dec. 14, bringing home four medals.
Medalists were Nathan Brannon, a senior, who took second in Varsity Men’s Epee, his third consecutive year medaling at this event.
Michelle Asenso-Bediako, a senior, took fifth in Women’s Varsity Epee. It was her first varsity medal in any event. As a member of junior varsity, she won second at Culver in 2022.
Elijah Wagner, a junior, won third in Varsity Men’s Sabre. It was his third consecutive year medaling at Culver and it was Wagner’s second medal this season.
McGruder won third place in Women’s JV Sabre, her second medal this season.
“The most remarkable statistic from this event was that five Marian fencers went undefeated in pools, especially notable in an open competition that includes high school-age club fencers whose schools do not have fencing programs,” said coach Ann Jones. The five fencers were seniors Michelle Asenso-Bediako,Trinity Cowles and Nathan Bannon, with juniors Brazil McGruder and Elijah Wagner.
Marian Catholic has a team of 33 fencers. They are scheduled to compete in the Homewood-Flossmoor JV Snowdown on Dec. 21. The team will next compete in dual meets in January.
“The most exciting change for the fencing program this season is the expansion of Marian’s Fitness Center. We are able to practice both there and in the East Gym,” Jones said. “We have added regular conditioning sessions to our practice routine ensuring that all of the fencers have the strength and stamina to perform at their best.”
