Growing West fencing program finds success

Maine West fencers Daniel Brissette, Corey Hinkes and Maciek Zymslowski (from left) show off the mugs they earned during competition in the massive North American Cup, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Friday through Monday.

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If it's true that success breeds success, then Maine West's ever-growing, co-ed fencing program certainly serves as a prime example.

Fresh from piling up six team trophies and earning eight all-conference selections during the season-ending Great Lakes Conference Championships in early February, Warriors' senior captain Jacky Swietochowski (women's epee) and junior captain Devin Zayas (men's sabre) traveled to North Carolina to compete in last month's Junior Olympics. Swietochowski ended up 61st out of 175, while Zayas finished 68th out of 190.

"The top youth fencers in the country go to this tournament every year, and both Jacky and Devin had to make it out of a qualifying tournament (at Northwestern University) to earn the chance," said West head coach Rachel Dean. "They both did a great job. Many of the fencers competing there are from the east and west coasts, and they've been competing since they were very young. So the fact that these Midwest kids did so well is really a testament to their hard work.

"Jacky has had a great season. She had the best winning percentage (83 percent) among our girls and was one of our three most valuable players (with Zayas and senior women's sabre captain Theresa Stoodley), and made all-conference. Devin is very competitive, very confident. He means business when he gets on the strip. He was a strong captain for us, a lead-by-example type. He brings an intensity and a passion."

Swietochowski and Zayas -- along with teammates Travis Wittenburg, Julia Paul, Corey Hinkes, Dan Brissette and Maciek Zymlowski -- then competed in the massive North American Cup, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Friday through Sunday.

"It's a really neat thing to be able to compete in this tournament," Dean said. "It's really big, with hundreds of people for each event, and you can earn USFA (United States Fencing Association) ratings if you do well. It's a big benefit for our kids. It broadens your level of competition, so you can gauge yourself and learn a lot by competing against national competition. And just having such a big tourney in Chicago ... we just don't many events like this here. Fencing is bigger on the East and West coasts, so this helps create awareness of the sport in Chicago."

Swietochowski finished third in women's epee at the NAC, earning a C08 rating -- as did Zymlowski with his third-place finish in men's epee. Brissette (5th) and Hinkes (7th) each earned D08 ratings.

Wittenburg, a three-year senior veteran and men's foil captain, "is an outstanding fencer," Dean said. "He had the best overall record (80 percent) among our boys this season. He's the fastest guy on the team, and he was intimidating to his opponents. Travis was a steady, focused performer."

Besides all-conference honoree Stoodley (a 2008 CSL Scholar-Athlete selection, along with Swietochowski and senior Nora Zizumbo), other West standouts included junior women's foil captain Katie Hope (all-conference), junior Jill Gutting-Kilzer and sophomore Vanessa Bagneshi (both all-conference in women's sabre), and junior Sam Beranek (all-conference in women's epee) -- plus sophomore Julie Moon (women's sabre).

"I attribute the success of our sabre team to Theresa (Stoodley). She fenced in the offseason to get better, and she brought that dedication and determination into the season," Dean said. "Katie is a very meticulous fencer. She kept notes on opponents to learn their strengths and weaknesses, and also took what we taught her and kept working at it. Jill was consistently strong, and very competitive -- a good, competitive spirit. With Vanessa (West's Rookie of the Year recipient), the exciting thing is, she switched from epee to sabre this season, and it's very different way of fencing. But she was very aggressive and very fast, two key things you need in sabre."

On the men's side, Zayas and Zymlowski were joined in earning all-conference honors by junior Bret Kravis (men's sabre). Meanwhile, senior Chris Stutler joined Wittenburg in earning a three-year varsity plaque. Dean also cited juniors Rebecca Quam and Samantha Scaramuzza for their contributions during the 2007-08 campaign.

"It was a really good season -- everyone surpassed my expectations," Dean said. "It's a sign of good things to come. We're building a strong team as the program continues to grow. We're only losing five seniors (to graduation), so I'm already excited about next season. With the experience and success gained this year, the team will come back that much more improved. Next year, my expectations will be to do even better -- and really dominate."