The Cathedral Catholic varsity fencing teams kicked off the season with impressive victories over local rival La Jolla Country Day.

Girls Varsity
Led by Captain Emma Moosman ’25, the girls varsity team triumphed with a decisive 45-26 win. Key performances came from seniors Grace Naughton, who limited opponents to just 5 touches, Giulia Verardi, and Meg Earley. The team’s strong showing set a high standard for the season ahead. The girls showcased their expertise demonstrating both technical skill and tactical awareness in their bouts.

Boys Varsity
The boys varsity team delivered an even more dominant performance, defeating LJCD 45-14. Alex Rotunda ’25 led the squad with an exceptional outing, conceding only 4 touches throughout the meet. Junior Drew Lunde, along with sophomores Noli Andronikou ’26 and Griffin Hayward ’26, also contributed significantly to the victory. The boys’ success was a testament to their rigorous training, including footwork drills, blade control exercises, and strategic sparring sessions.

About Fencing
Fencing is often described as “physical chess” due to the mental acuity and strategic planning required in each match. In fencing there are three weapon categories:

Foil: A thrusting weapon where points are scored by hitting the torso with the tip of the blade.
Epee: Similar to foil but allows hits to the entire body, requiring patience and precision.
Sabre: A cutting and thrusting weapon where the target area is above the waist, favoring speed and aggression.

At Cathedral Catholic, athletes compete exclusively in the foil discipline. Fencers must balance offense and defense, employing feints, parries, and ripostes to outmaneuver their opponents.

Upcoming Events
Next on the schedule for Dons Fencing is an away Tri-Meet on Saturday, Jan. 25, against La Jolla Country Day and Pasadena Polytechnic School. The team will then host the Cathedral Catholic High School Fencing Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1, in the Claver Center. This event promises to attract some of the top high school fencing talent in the region, providing a thrilling day of competition for athletes and spectators alike.