Lunging Towards Success at the Long Island Championships

Elaine Liu

April 1, 2025

Since the creation of the Syosset fencing program in 2018, the girls’ and boys’ teams had never captured dual Long Island Championship titles…until February 11, when history was officially made.

The girls’ team, seeded fourth, sought to win their first County Championship, on February 8. After falling short last year against Great Neck South in the finals, they saw a rematch in this year’s semifinals. Junior Alexa Lim, a sabre on the team, said, “We knew this season would be tough. We lost to all the teams we had to fence at the County Championships in the regular season.” Despite this, Syosset pulled off an upset, winning 14-7. Junior Thea Chen called it a “miracle,” and when
asked about the team’s mindset, said, “It wasn’t ‘what if we lose?’ but rather ‘I’m going to contribute towards the win.’”

That same day, the girls went on to defeat third-seed Jericho 14-5, clinching their first-ever County Championship title. Seventh grader Winona Zheng led the team with an undefeated 5-0 record, while key contributions from Alexa Lim, Eesha Nayak, Sophie Wang, Erin Choi, and Autumn Trieu sealed their victory. “We didn’t just win to win, but to win for each other,” said junior Autumn Trieu.

Junior Autumn Trieu, épée, ecstatic after winning her bout in the semifinals against Great Neck South. After experiencing a heartbreaking loss last year to Great Neck South, Trieu and her teammates felt even more motivated to win the semis this season. Photo credit: Jonathan Singh.

Meanwhile, the boys’ team, determined to avenge last year’s close 14-13 finals loss in the Long Island Championships, dominated the playoffs. Undefeated in the regular season, they entered the playoffs as the top seed, defeating Herricks 14-6 in the semifinals. In the finals, Syosset overwhelmed Great Neck South with a decisive 14-3 victory, reclaiming the County Championship title. Senior Jade Li secured the winning point, with standout performances from Sajan Shah, Derrick Xiang, and Lucas Zheng. “Everyone was so locked in. The energy we brought helped us win,” said junior Jason Zhang.

To prepare after their respective County Championship victories, both teams studied previous bouts and even held a simulated meet against each other. “We focused on making our weak spots stronger,” said junior Thea Chen. Syosset’s rigorous training paid off when both teams won the Long Island Championship on February 11, with the girls defeating Ward Melville 13-8 and boys beating Newfield/Miller Place 14-4. “[This] is the best feeling in the world,” said Autumn Trieu. With these victories, the Syosset fencing program has cemented its legacy, proving that hard work and determination lead to championship success.