Westfield High School Girls Launch Fencing Club

Christina Whang, a parent and president of the Fencing Foundation of America, has launched a fencing club for girls at Westfield High School and is looking for more interested participants.

“Did you know that New Jersey is the epicenter of the sport of fencing on the east coast?” Whang asked. New Jersey’s own Princeton University was the winner of 2013 NCAA Fencing Championship. Whang is now launching a fencing club, maybe even on the varsity level at the high school.

Right now, there are nine girls that have shown interest in the club.

“There needs to be a minimum of 9 girls to fill an "A", "B", and "C" strip for each of the 3 weapons,” she explained.  However, they are still looking for additional participants for the team.

Her daughter, Jessica, has been ranked nationally as a fencer since the age of 10. She also trains with an Olympic coach in Manhattan.

According to Whang, a lot of scholarships are offered at top colleges for fencing, and Ivy League colleges actively recruit fencers.

On Thursday at back-to-school night, the fencing club will have a table set up for active participants. The club will host its first meeting on Oct. 10 after school in Room 255.

With the help of athletic director Sandra Mamary, Whang is hoping to have fencing a varsity sport for girls by next year. Mamary is also looking to set up scrimmages between Governor Livingston, Basking Ridge, and Livingston fencing teams.

The coach will be an Olympic hopeful or a Columbia University fencer from the Manhattan Fencing Center, where Whang works. A coach has not yet been decided, she said.

“I hope to have the Westfield girls take advantages of this money,” Whang said. 

Those interested can contact Whang at whsfencing@gmail.com.