Cutting-Edge Fencers Reach New Heights

The Holy Angels Fencing Team’s 13-1 record doesn’t just speak for itself; it sings from the Palisades. This year’s epee, sabre, and foil squads are the reigning league champions, Bergen County champions, and District 1 State Sectional champions.

The Angels wrapped up their season with a team best, second place finish in the NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association Team Tournament Finals. The Academy’s fencers were also named the Bergen County Women Coaches Association’s Team of the Year, and Head Coach Patrick Curran became BCWCA Coach of the Year.

“They’ve done some amazing things this year,” Curran said. “We’ve been building up to this. I told them at the beginning of the season they had no place to go but the state championship. They worked so hard and built the confidence that brought them all the way to the finals. I’m very proud of their accomplishments.”

Seven Angels qualified for the individual state events, including Team Captain Lauren Tong, Elise Sato, June Kim, Katie Jeong, Eva Jurcevic, Chanel Hwang, and Catherine Raimondi. Tong, one of three Angels who competed in the individual events, was one of 36 epee qualifiers in a field of 180. She finished 13^th in New Jersey, repeating her success from 2023.

When Lauren Tong (AHA ’24) joined the team as a sophomore, AHA’s fencers had not won a championship in nearly a decade. Coach Curran asked his team to state their goal for the season, and Tong said the Angels should go for first place in the state.

“A few people chuckled, but (Curran) took me entirely seriously,” Tong recalled. “Three years later, I am so proud to say my team took second place in states and won first in the league, county, and districts, making this season the best in AHA fencing history.”

Tong pointed to the confidence the fencers built together throughout the season. She expressed her gratitude for having been a member of the team and for being able to witness the Angels’ growth.

“I am truly going to miss the amazing people I’ve met throughout my time here. My hope is that the culture we’ve shaped together will be passed down each season.” 

AHA’s varsity fencers include Martine Alvarez (epee) and Elyse Sato (epee) of Chestnut Ridge, New York; Lydia Baracskai (sabre) and Charlotte Lasaga (epee) of Hoboken; Sophia Campise (sabre) of Fort Lee; Audrey Collins (sabre) of Harrington Park; Chanel Hwang (foil) and Lauren Tong (epee) of Old Tappan; Katie Jeong (sabre) of Edgewater; Eva Jurcevic (foil) of Hillsdale; June Kim (sabre) of Tenafly; Catherine Raimondi (foil) of River Edge; Julianna Rosen (foil) of Dumont; and Sirahn Toufayan (epee) of Saddle River.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds. AHA’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others. Visit HOLYANGELS.ORG to learn more.