By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Rohan Dang’s drive has pushed him to greater heights each year along with the Montgomery High School boys fencing team.
The junior has moved up from the C strip to B strip after the graduation of squad leader Johan Zhang, and his improvements enabled him to help the MHS foil squad with Paul Won and Ryan Fan win its first District 2 fencing championship.
”We had our hopes,” Dang said. “Last year, we did very well. Our team was top 3 and the foil squad did well also.”
The Cougars placed third overall in the district. Their epee squad took second place, and their saber squad was 11th. In addition to the strong team performance, a number of individuals placed in the top five in districts to advance to the individual Meet of Champions.
Won claimed the foil championship after a slow start, Dang earned his first trip to the MOC when he took fifth place, and Sahib Singh just missed qualifying in epee when he finished sixth.
”I was determined to make the top pool,” Dang said. “I knew it was a challenge to make the states. I was optimistic but knew it wouldn’t be that easy.”
He will be joined at the Meet of Champions by Won, a veteran who used his experience to win foil gold. There was no worry after a slow start.
”He lost two bouts in the first round which is great because in our district foil is unbelievable,” said MHS boys coach Tim Sullivan. “When we got to individuals, all three made it to (district) finals. I’m proud of them. For Paul, it’s the way to go out senior year. It’s the first time we had a foil win that.
”All three of them qualified for the finals — Ryan, Rohan and Paul all qualified. Paul and Rohan were able to make it through to individuals on March 1. Hunterdon Central has won foil every year. They’ve had it four or five years. This is the first time anyone other than Hunterdon Central won it. We’ve always been close. It was nice to go out and win it.”
For five straight years, the Montgomery High girls won the district title, but Watchung Hills ended that streak Saturday. The Cougars, who fenced without their A strip in foil, finished second.
”I don’t think we saw it as a disappointment,” said MHS girls coach Johanna Snedeker. “We came in second. It was just that day, at that time, Watchung Hills fenced better than we did. I don’t think it’s a disappointment. It’s an opportunity to reflect that you can’t always be a winner. When talking to kids about learning a life lesson, once in a while, you have to lose.”
Snedeker was happy to see that the district title stayed in the Skyland Conference. The Cougars beat Watchung Hills in the regular season. MHS’ only loss this year is to Bernards, and they could get another shot at Watchung Hills if they get through Morris Hills in a state tournament match that was scheduled for Thursday.
”That should be very interesting,” Snedeker said. “Here’s an opportunity to take it back, or they show they earned it. That’ll be a fun match to see how that plays out.”
The Cougars advanced all three weapons to the state squad meets. Their saber was third, their epee was third and their foil came in fourth. Individually, Anita Louie was fourth in epee and Chloe Sofield was fifth in epee, and both will be making their first trips to the Meet of Champions.
”Our B and C strip are both moving on to state individuals,” Snedeker said. “We have a lot of different people fencing this year. It’s almost a whole new line. Anita is a junior. Chloe is a sophomore. It bodes well for the squad. We’re just graduating Katie Schmidt from the epee line.”
The Cougars are looking to finish their season strong again. They will have the chance to build on their district meet.
”We have a couple more meets to go,” Snedeker said. “We’re sitting nicely to win the Skyland Conference Raritan Division again. Even though we didn’t win the districts, there are a lot of other things. We’re sending two epees to states, we’re sending all three squads to states, and we’re hosting state individuals.”
It will be the first trip to the MOC for Dang. He won bronze in foil at the Freshman-Sophomore Invitational in his first year at MHS. Last year, he was a regular on the C strip for the Cougars. Now, he’s one of the best in the district from the B strip.
”I started fencing seriously in eighth grade,” Dang said. “When I hit high school, I started to train even more.
”We practice every day after school. With people like Paul, who’s a very seasoned fencer, he talks to the team and keeps us relaxed. And our coach talks to us and keeps us very motivated.”
The foil earlier this year placed second at the Cetrulo tournament, and their district win solidifies their state hopes.
”We came out strong in the beginning,” Dang said. “We got our first medal last year and topped it and got second at Cetrulo.”
Sullivan could see early the changes in Dang. He has returned for his third season of high school fencing more polished.
”During the offseason, he’s really put the hard work in,” Sullivan said. “He’s gone to Premier Fencing in South Brunswick. His point control is much better. He’s grown in leaps and bounds. He was my C fencer last year. The improvements from last year are incredible. His sophomore year, he got most improved fencer.”
Dang is well on his way to being among the most improved fencers again. He was just looking to keep the Cougars growing this season, and the district win is confirmation of their development.
”It’s very good,” Dang said. “We’re looking pretty confident for the state tournament. We did well in the Cetrulo tournament in January. We’re looking good for the state tournament.”
The Cougars’ team state tournament ended Tuesday in a loss to West Windsor-Plainsboro North, their second of the season to the Knights. MHS had fenced well, however, to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
”North has a great team,” Sullivan said. “They’re balanced. They have two good weapons. Their epee is very good and their saber line is very consistent.”
The West Windsor-Plainsboro South boys were fifth overall at the district meet. Their saber was second and will advance to the state squad meet, while epee was sixth and foil 10th. Kevin Gao was fifth in saber to advance to the state individuals.
The WW-P South girls were sixth overall. Their saber was fifth, foil came in seventh and epee took eighth. The Pirates also advanced two individuals to the MOC — Jade Rowland who was third in foil, and Jennifer Ling who placed third in saber.
The Princeton High School girls were 11th overall, while the boys placed 13th in districts. The girls epee took sixth and foil was 10th. Melody Ting was the highest individual finisher in seventh in epee. Katalyn Horvath was ninth in epee. The boys saber was eighth.

