Even a non-fencer like myself knew of our school’s reputation on the fencing mat, a reputation that has lasted for most of NYU’s fencing history. One of the two sports at NYU that competes at all division levels, the NYU fencing team has consistently ranked in the top 10 of Divisions 1, 2 and 3. Our school has sent fencers to the Olympics and the national championships, and has produced fencing greats like Peter Westbrook and Michael Lofton. We have a pretty bad ass team.

So how do they do it? Most of it has to do with what they’re not. As cheesy and as corny as it sounds, the NYU fencing team is not just a team, it’s a family. “We always joke that the fencing team is like a family, but it really kinda is,” says women’s team co-captain Eliza Friar (Gallatin ’10), “I have always found it to be a very accepting environment.” Men’s co-captain Jared Hammond (CAS ’10) attributes the team’s success to its teamwork and unity. “The team is greater and more important than anything else,” he says. “We cheer for each other [and] support each other.” CAS sophomore Sophie Ciaravino also agrees. “If you’re not fencing, you should be by their side, cheering them on.” Indeed, the NYU team is known for being especially loud and obnoxious during fencing meets.

Impressively, this enthusiasm doesn’t falter, even with incredibly demanding schedules. These athletes have to balance heavy school loads, fencing practice, and jobs (in some cases, two jobs). In addition, traveling to fencing meets often removes from precious study time for the students. “I don’t know how I do it, to be honest,” says Ciaravino.

At the head of this successful group is Coach Steve Mormando, whose zeal for the sport and the team was palpable even through his emails. Ciaravino describes him as a “fun fellow” who “tries to inspire us.” Indeed, his pump-up speeches have ranged from the ordinary to the downright odd, including a speech that involved a certain rear-ended sexual activity. A champion fencer himself, Mormando, upon becoming the head coach of the men’s team in 1987 (he was already the head coach for the women’s team), brought the team to twenty-five championships between 1988 and 2003, and continues to boast an impressive record. He gives a lot of credit to his assistant coaches. “They make both the program and myself shine,” says Mormando.

“In competition, we go to win,” says Mormando, “Any team that takes NYU lightly will go down.” Indeed, shortly before Christmas, NYU defeated Harvard, who won the Division 1 NCAA championship two years ago. At the NYU Invitation this past Sunday, the team faced other fencing powerhouses and fared well, posting victories against Wayne State and Yale, and qualified a few of their fencers to the regional competition. And 2009 only looks better. “2009 is an exciting year. Each weapon has one, maybe two athletes that can go all the way,” says Mormando. “We have depth. We have dedication. We are NYU. Just does not get better than that.”

Photo: Flickr courtesy of David Sommerfeld.