Montclair High Epee Squad Recognized for Outstanding Season

Montclair High School’s boy’s epee squad had a standout season, winning the 2013 New Jersey Epee Squad State Championship at the NJSIAA Squad Fencing Championships earlier this year. 

The trio of fencers — Lucas Della Bella, Matthew Schattner and Gabriel Canaux, all 17-year-old juniors at Montclair High — were recently commended by the Essex County Board of Freeholders for their accomplishments.

“As a proud Montclair High School alumnus,” Freeholder Brendan Gill said in a release, “I am especially happy to honor the members of the State Championship Montclair Epee Squad … and considering that all three members are juniors, I’m certainly looking forward to doing this again next year!”  

The squad won the statewide Cetrulo Tournament at Voorhees High School and the NJSIAA District 3 championship at Livingston High School before winning the state title.

Canaux, winner of the Individual Epee State Championship, was named New Jersey “Fencer of the Year” by The Star-Ledger.  

“We fenced really well this season, and I just can’t wait for next season because I believe we’re going to do just as well as we did this time, and I just can’t wait," Canaux said in his remarks at the freeholder meeting.

The Montclair High School Epee Squad was coached by Head Coach Michael McTigue and Assistant Coaches Julie Carisen and David Wright.