TINTON FALLS – Members of the Ranney School varsity girls’ fencing team last month won the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Prep State Championship.
The girls’ foil squad, consisting of upper school students Nicole Vaiani, Olivia Eaddy, Madison Acker and Emily Brodsky, worked together to bring home the gold.
“The girls fenced with a lot of fighting spirit,” said head coach Agota Balot, who also coaches Ranney fencing camp during the summer. “With two new fencers on the foil squad, it was an outstanding result for the girls. They showed great team spirit during the entire day working together, helping each other with advice on and off the strip.”
Vaiani was also crowned the NJSIAA Individual Foil Champion, after she won three 10-touch bouts.
“As she competed for the gold medal, all 21 Ranney fencers from both the girls’ and boys’ teams surrounded the area and cheered beside her on the strip,” Balot said. “It was a very nice show of camaraderie and support.”
This month, Vaiani won gold and was crowned 2014 NJSIAA State Foil Fencing Champion.
Ranney students have the opportunity to begin fencing in the lower school through Ranney Plus after-school programming at Atlantic Fencing Academy located in Tinton Falls, which is owned by Balot. Atlantic Fencing Academy is also the location for Ranney’s Summer Programs fencing camp.
Balot is a former Hungarian Junior Team Champion with more than 25 years of fencing and personal training experience. She has spent her entire life around the sport of fencing.
