Sledeski led Cougars to finest season
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nick Sledeski came into the boys fencing season with lofty expectations for the Montgomery High School team and for himself.
His ability to handle the pressure helped lead the way to the best season in Cougars history, and the team’s, sabre squad’s and his success went hand-in-hand.
”This year, he became the go-to person,” said MHS boys coach Tim Sullivan. “Everyone was looking to go after Nick. That was the one person you had to beat to have a chance against us.”
Few did this year. Sledeski, who started fencing in middle school, has developed into a tougher fencer every year. He saved his best for last.
”When I first came into high school, I was used to 15-point bouts from outside competitions,” Sledeski said. “As I’ve had more high school experience, I’ve gotten more confident and more consistency in five-touch bouts.
”In a 15-point bout, you have more time to analyze your opponent and look for patterns and build strategy around it. I had to already have a strategy for high school bouts. A lot of the fencers, I already knew them well from tournaments and previous years. I’d watch them while they were fencing and come up with strategy before I stepped on the strip.”
And bout after bout, Sledeski came through for the Cougars in a season that kept on getting better. Sledeski won the District 2 sabre individual title, led Montgomery to the sabre squad championship and the overall team title, its first at all three levels for the boys program.
After helping his squad finish seventh in the state squad championships, Sledeski helped to bring the Cougars team to unprecedented heights. Montgomery reached the state final four and lost the semifinal but just a point before finishing third overall. The Cougars finished 14-4, a feat that meant more than anything to Sledeski.
”We could have finished better,” he said. “We lost by one bout to Mendham, and they ended up winning. I was surprised at how well we did. It wasn’t something I couldn’t have predicted because I saw how we were improving every year. It was just an incredible way to end my high school year.”
Sledeski also recorded the highest individual finish in the boys program when he took second overall in the state sabre competition. Sledeski was only one touch from being the state champion as he finished his season 47-2 in regular-season matches and 35-3 in the Cetrullo, district and state meets.
Nick Sledeski is the Princeton Packet Girls Fencer of the Year.
”He handled pressure well all four years,” Sullivan said. “That was one thing I wish we could channel from the guy. He never let any circumstance get under his skin. That made him excel as a sabre fencer. Everything happens so quick. He knew how to calm himself down and get ready for the next call. He was very good at adjusting quickly.
”Ever since he came in four years ago, he’s the first fencer I noticed. I’ve been coaching for four years. He was the go-to guy freshman year. He won 27 matches freshman year and excelled every year. He pulled the sabre squad from a team that got massacred every match to district champ and fifth in the state. He made the sabre so much better.”
The growth of the sabre squad and the Cougars as a team is the lasting memory that Sledeski will take next fall to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he will fence.
”It was a huge change in terms of results, with the squad and individuals, for everything,” Sledeski said. “One of the great moments was districts was where we swept. The squads and individuals all did well, and we won as a team. That was one of the highlights of the season.
”I think that was the most important aspect. The team as a whole improved a lot. To see everyone working together was good. I wanted to see myself improve, but I wanted to see the team improve as a whole. The team was the most important.”
Sledeski’s example helped to guide the less experienced Cougars. He remained a top fencer for the Cougars throughout his career, but even he acknowledged that he developed consistently through the years, particularly in how to handle the mounting expectations. He used to worry more about his record and how his matches would affect the team results. This year, he had more fun.
”I knew the pressure was there, but at the same time, I didn’t feel it this year,” Sledeski said. “I’ve become better at handling the pressure. That was more of a problem freshman, sophomore and junior year. That’s one of the reasons I’ve improved. I’ve gotten better at learning how to handle it.
”I don’t really get stressed out by the pressure. I just try to focus on winning the bout. I get pumped up to fence someone really good. I’m excited to have strong opponents.”
Keeping calm through every match was critical to his success. Sabre officiating can vary greatly.
”He did a good job adjusting to that,” Sullivan said. “He was able to keep a cool head and adjust fast.
”He’s extremely intelligent. He was fantastic at seeing what his opponent would do and coming up with a counter attack. He’d stay with it until the person would figure it out and he’d come up with another attack.”
Sullivan watched as Sledeski developed into a fencer with all the tools. On top of his intelligence, he had the physical ability by this season to top anyone.
”Physically, freshman and sophomore year, he didn’t have the strength,” Sullivan said. “He had the quickness. He didn’t have the strength and size. Last year to this year, his size and quickness worked to his advantage. He dominated matches. With his size and strength, he was able to take it to other fencers. I saw his confidence go to another level.”
With so much success for himself and the Cougars, Sledeski couldn’t help but gain confidence throughout the season.
”It means a lot because I’ve really been working hard throughout high school and even middle school when I started,” Sledeski said. “It’s been great to see how my hard work has translated.
”I definitely expected I’d do well. Looking back on the season, I’m still surprised how well I did. With five-point bouts and the level of competition in high school fencing, I was really surprised as my consistency and winning some tough bouts I didn’t expect to win. I expected to do well, but I surprised myself.”
Nick Sledeski’s success didn’t come as a surprise to Montgomery. They saw him put together 152 victories in his four years, and cap his career with his best season yet.
”He has a great work ethic,” Sullivan said. “If fencing is something he wants to push to the next level, he’ll be fine. I know he’ll push himself no matter what he does.”