MHS junior gains confidence with Santelli bronze
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Juliet Job would have gone to the first Montgomery High School fencing team’s matches, but her brother never pushed for it.
”He never wanted me to watch him fence,” Job said. “He felt it wasn’t an interesting spectator sport to watch.”
Now, no one wants to miss a Cougars match.
MHS remains among the top programs in the state, in part because of fencers like Job, who have come to the high school team with prior experience. She followed her brother, James, into the sport and started fencing with Charles Hurley Fencing at the Princeton YMCA in seventh grade.
”I feel every year I get more serious,” said Job, a junior foil with the MHS girls team. “I get more into the sport.”
Her dedication has been rewarded handsomely. She fenced several matches in the varsity lineup as a freshman, then last year moved into the regular lineup. Early in the season, she ascended to the A strip, where she remains this season.
”She emerged midseason to take over A strip last year,” said Cougar girls coach Johanna Snedeker. “She kept her skills strong and was able to maintain that position for us this winter. She’s really been an asset to our team. We’re hoping to see her come back and see even more from her next year.”
Job is off to an encouraging start. She was unbeaten in the morning portion, then went 5-2 against the state’s top foilists in the afternoon as the Cougar foil squad of her, Mindy Tieu, Allison Resnick and Deepa Mahadevan finished third in foil to help propel MHS to fifth in the overall team standings at the Santelli Relay Championships last Saturday.
”We were very happy with how we fenced,” Job said. “It was a great day. All of us were really on with our fencing. I think we felt we could achieve that (third).”
A year ago, the Cougars won the Santelli tournament, and they were in the mix again this season with all three squads finishing in the top 10 of their respective weapons.
”I thought we could be as strong as last year if not stronger,” Job said. “I thought we’d be able to place in Santelli and districts.
”I think it boosts our confidence as to how good our squad is and how good our team is,” she added. “It gives us a sense of where we stand and what we can achieve.”
Job, who still fences for her original coach at the Princeton Y, is a stronger fencer individually this year, and she’s more familiar with her role on the A strip. It’s helped her approach competitions this season confidently.
”I thought it really prepared me,” Job said. “I faced a lot of the same competition this year that I did last year.”
Job had already moved up to the A strip last year when the Cougars won the Santelli tournament.
”It’s been similar this year,” she said, “but I do feel more comfortable in the A strip. I know what it’s like.”
Expectations are as high as ever for Job and the Cougars. She is looking to qualify as an individual for the Tournament of Champions, increase her classification at foil outside of school, and help MHS advance as far as possible in the team tournament.
The Cougars are off to a strong start at 6-1 after a 19-8 win over North Hunterdon on Tuesday. MHS gave some of its less experienced fencers a chance to compete after it had clinched the win thanks to regulars like Job. After a scheduled match against Gill St. Bernards on Thursday, the Cougars are to face Pingry today before the schedule takes a jump.
”We have some tough, tough matches coming up,” Snedeker said. “We have Governor Livingston and Livingston. We have districts and both the Windsors again. We have some tough meets in front of us.”
MHS suffered its only loss this year in a close match with Bernards, and the Cougars aren’t getting too ahead of themselves despite their strong opening.
”Throughout the season, we’ve had the motto treat each team like they’re the best,” Job said. “If we keep that motto against the better teams, we can take them on and hopefully win some of them.”
Aside from her impact on the strip, Job is trying to help the future MHS foilists improve in practice. With strong competition among the squad, everyone benefits in practice sessions.
”I think it definitely helps,” Job said. “We fence each other. We work to coach each other to be the best they can be.
”There’s actually quite a few girls on the squad that have had pre-high school experience. For the beginning fencers, it’s helpful to have fencers like me and Mindy Tieu who have experience.”
Job will be one of the leaders for the Cougars this and next year before she hopes to continue fencing in college. She expects to continue to pick up valuable experience as she sees more competition on the A strip, and unlike her brother, she’s happy to have all the support she can at her matches. And with another strong Montgomery High team, there’s plenty to see.