WEST WINDSOR: Baliga is state epee champion

Knights junior leads area fencers

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Anjali Baliga made sure her first state epee title was a memorable one.
   Baliga, a junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High North, captured the championship in a three-way fence-off after finishing tied for first with Christine Robinson of Voorhees and Christine Forsythe of Hackettstown after round-robin play.
   ”It was very close actually,” Baliga said. “I had no expectations when I went into the tournament. All nine people in the competition were very good and we all fenced each other and three of us were 6-2. So we fenced each other to see who would be first and I won both of my matches, so I was first.”
   It was quite an accomplishment for Baliga, one of four Knights to compete in the state individual championships at Rider University on Saturday. Joe Benke was 10th and Hamad Masood was 15th in the boys’ epee, while Gentley Smith finished 14th in the girls’ sabre.
   ”It was all very exciting,” WW-P North coach Gail Kedoin said. “She was our MVP last year and she had a good year after fencing JV as a freshman. Last year she really came on strong. The four of them practiced for two weeks to get ready and we would have a different person from the team show up each day as well.
   ”Our team really had a good year overall. We had some people who really made a lot of improvement and I think they’ll do even better next year.”
   The one who had the best year was Baliga, who put together a great day to capture the epee crown.
   ”I was really happy,” she said. “Our coach really helped prepare me and keep me focused for the matches. I was just always trying to stay in the present and not look ahead to the future. My coach gave me things to focus on in practice and the matches and I think that really helped. It was also great to have the other fencers on our team there for support.”
   WW-P South and Montgomery also sent wrestlers to the individual championships. For the Pirates, Steven Yang finished eighth in the sabre, while Alex Guo was eliminated in the first round.
   ”Steven lost, 5-4, to the guy who went on to finish first,” South coach George Michalik said. “For a sophomore, he did extremely well. I was very proud of him. And it was also great for Alex to get there. It was a good day for us.”
   Montgomery’s Anjali Ramaswamy in sabre and Sarah Caputo in epee were both eliminated in the opening round on Saturday.
   ”They faced individuals they fenced evenly with before, they just did not win this time,” Montgomery coach Johanna Snedeker said. “It was the first time there for them and a great experience. Sarah is a sophomore and Anjali is a junior. So next year there is a possibility they’ll get back and they’ll have the added experience.”
   The Cougars had capped off their regular season by winning the Skyland Conference championship with an 18-9 win over North Hunterdon. The Cougars finished the season 15-4.
   ”It was an amazing season,” Snedeker said. “It was a 180 degree turnaround. The girls all supported each other and they embraced the team concept that we were hoping for. Having Ambika (Singh) was a big factor. She had a great year for us. She did not get to compete in the individuals because she was at a tournament in Budapest during districts, but she did not lose a match all season.”