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Ridge Boys Fencing Victory Over Watchung Hills Takes Them To The State Championship Finals!
Ridge Boys Fencing Victory Over Watchung Hills Takes Them To The State Championship Finals!
By Arsalan Husain
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The tension was high and omnipresent as Ridge (District1 winners) and Watchung Hills (District 3 winners) came onto the strip. Both teams were evenly matched and knew that they had to stay focused and determined in order to win. Watchung dominated at the start of the first round with a score of 4-0 but Ridge came back, finishing the first round with a tally of 4-5. The wins came from epee fencers Jake Lee and Arsalan Husain, and Will Gaziano and Mark Simeon in foil. Going in to the second round, Ridge knew they had to take the lead in order to have any chance of winning the meet. Sure enough Ridge took the second round by storm. The team spirit could be felt and heard through the gym as parents and fellow team mates roared. Jacob Klein sparked the moral with the first sabre win in the second round. In foil Captain Bobak Shadpoor and Will Gaziano each won their bouts, tieing the score at 7-7. Mark Simeon then won a crucial bout against B rated Yash Srivastav of Watchung Hills, putting Ridge in the lead. Ridge’s strong epee squad closed out the second round with 3 more wins by Jake Lee, Arsalan Husian, and Paul Molander bringing the score to Ridge 11, Watchung Hills 7. Three bouts away from defeating Watchung Hills, the crowd was ecstatic as the teams went in to the final round. Watchung’s saber squad held strong but Ray Comperiati was able to pull a win. Up next was Foil with victories by Bobak Shadpoor and Will Gaziano securing the win at 14-9. Mark Simeon, Paul Molander , Pulak Raj, and Alex Wang continued the winning streak bringing the final score to Ridge 18, Watchung Hills 9. It was a great day for the Ridge Fencers. With Coach Slava and Captain, Bobak Shadpoor at the helm, each member fenced to his full potential and gave it their all! The State Championship finals will take place at Morris Hills on Wedneday, 26th of February. Once again, tension and excitements mounts as the team eagerly waits to see who their opponents will be. Columbia or Ramapo????
