Highlander Fencing

New Blog site for GL Fencing

We are transitioning to a new web/blog site. There are a number of features on the new site that make this desirable.

• The blog tools make it a lot easier to post updates quickly. The current blog has a very bad editor that actually messes up the layout each and every time we post.
• The team's Google Calendar is embedded in the new blog, meaning it is live and auto-updates. With just a click or two you can have all details of an event or bring up a map to help you find a fencing meet.
• For Gmail users, with a click you can add events to your personal/family Google calendar.
• Embedded thumbnails and links to Flickr photostreams.

Check it out at 

http://glfencing.blogspot.com/

This is still a work in progress. The intent is to leave this site up and accessible. We would move content prior to the next renewal (March 2012). We will try to repoint the domain name, "glfencing.org" at the new site for the convenience of all.

Dave Warde

GL Fencing Parents Meeting 5/12/2011 Summary & Minutes

Hello there fencing families -

Thanks so much to all of you who joined us on Thursday night at the Berkeley Heights Library for our first (un)official meeting of the 2011-12 fencing year.  Wahoo!  For those of you who were unable to join us, no worries!  Synnove's meeting minutes [click here] are so thorough you will feel like you were there!

Please read the minutes carefully, but here are the highlights

- Coach gave some info on potential changes to the organization of  high school fencing in our area.  Details in the minutes; more info to follow as final decisions are made.

- After a discussion of the program changes that will be necessitated by the school district's 2011 -2012 budget, families in attendance agreed that fundraising to "keep the program whole" would be desirable.

- The preferred fundraiser is a "no bake bakesale"  wherein families make an unconditional donation to the Highlander Booster Club earmarked for the fencing team account. The suggested amount to meet our need is $150 per fencer.  

Payment Instructions

Checks should be made payable to the "Highlander Booster Club" with "Fencing Team" in the memo line and mailed to me at:

Heidi Friedlander

41 Timothy Field Road

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

There is no requirement to donate any amount. Donations are voluntary. Families should be aware that this donation is an unconditional gift to the Booster Club, is not refundable, and does not constitute a guarantee that any student will “make” the team. A list of donors will not be maintained by fencing parents.  One hundred percent of the donation will be used to benefit the fencing team; Booster Club maintains separate accounts containing the fundraising proceeds of each team, so remember to include the "GL Fencing" memo on the check.

June 1 is the preferred deadline, but those who wish to make a donation but need a little more time may send it in by July 1.  These deadlines are designed to allow the BOE to act on the gift to the best benefit of the team, namely being able to make a commitment to coaching personnel before they make other plans for the season.

I will send one reminder early in June updating the group on the amount collected.  
We expect that the results of the "No Bake Bakesale" will cover the team's needs for the year.  In addition, Sue Menaker plans to design and sell a new version of the team t-shirt, the proceeds of which will provide a small cushion for the team account.  

- Sue Menaker is looking for a parent or 2 with younger fencers to "shadow" her and Chris Wagner as they produce the potluck dinner and end of year banquet.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss the fundraising further, please contact me.  
Heidi Friedlander665-8935

GL Fencing Parents Mtg 5/12 7pm @ BH Public Library

Hi Fencing Parents

Please plan to join us on Thursday, May 12 at 7pm in the meeting room of the Berkeley Heights Public Library (290 Plainfield Avenue) to discuss program funding for the upcoming season.  Parents only, fencers do not need to attend.

The school budget that passed last week contains funding for 2 fencing coaches, a reduction of 1 from the 2010 - 2011 season.  In addition, funding for our team's participation in certain tournaments has been eliminated.  Interest in conducting fundraising to offset these budget cuts has been expressed by many of you.  

At this meeting, we will discuss the feasibility of and brainstorm an action plan for fundraising.  I hope to have the district's position on and guidelines for accepting gifts of this type by next Thursday. 

Please come to share your thoughts on the subject even if you are not able to help out with organizing anything we decide to pursue.  It would be great to see everyone!

Please call or email me with questions.

Heidi Friedlander

665-8935

GL Fencing End of Season Banquet Tonight Thurs, 3/10

 

Date:  Thursday, March 10th

Time:   7:00 PM  

Location:  The Primavera, Valley Rd.  Stirling NJ

The menu has several options, which you choose when you are seated.

Let's close out the Fencing season in style, with awards, thank yous, and a slideshow to help us look back on and remember 2010-11!

Map

 

NCAA Mid Atlantic-South FENCING Regional

Dear GLHS Fencers and Families,

The email (below) was just sent to all NJ High School Coaches.   I thought that some of you may wish to see some really good college-level fencing which will be occuring this weekend right in your "back yard".

This would also be a good time to meet some of the Coaches from a wide range of college fencing programs -- without having to take the time to visit the schools.    Most of the coaches are pretty open about speaking with the fans (and their parents) about their programs in this setting.

 

For obvious reasons, I will be in attendance and can point out some of the people involved in the event.

 

Coach Paragano

Dear Coaches,

  

On March 12, Drew University and the NCAA are proud to announce that the 2011 NCAA Mid Atlantic-South Fencing Regional will be held in Madison, N.J. Collegiate fencers throughout the region will compete for the opportunity to advance to the National Championship held March 24-27 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.  13 schools, six from New Jersey, will be in attendance and the top fencers from each event will qualify to move on to Nationals. The regional competition will commence at 9 a.m. with foil and the schedule will progress with epee, ending with sabre.  The event is FREE of charge and all age groups are encouraged to attend.

 

When: March 12, start 9:00 a.m.

Where: Simon Forum at Drew University, Madison, N.J. 07940

                www.drewrangers.com / 973-408-3000

 

Schools to compete:

Drew University

Duke University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Haverford College

John's Hopkins University

Lafayette College

New Jersey Institue of Technology

Pennsylvania State University

Princeton University

Steven's Institute of Technology

Temple University

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

 

Join Drew University in welcoming the top fencers of the region to compete on the final stage before Nationals.

 

Best,

 

 

 

Christina Buchanan
Marketing & Promotions Coordinator
Drew University
O: 973-408-3490
C: 201-248-1749

www.drewrangers.com

GO RANGERS!

 

Girls "Bronze Medal" Match Details

Dear GL Fencers, Families and Friends:

Here are the details concerning tomorrow's Girls Bronze Medal match against Columbia....

Location:   Morris Hills High School, Rockaway, New Jersey

Bus Departure:    3:00 pm from Gov.Livingston (Bus will return after the match)

Match Starting time:  4:30 pm (Sharp)

Admission Fees:    $4 for students (not members of the girls team);  $7 for adults.

Food:   Girls are to bring "tournament food" for pre-game consumption.    Concession foods are available to the public.

Transportation for Boys Team:    There are a limited number of seats available on the bus for boys.   Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the boys (as space will allow).    The boys who have been practicing with the girls this week will be given first priority in the seating.

We will be limited to 6 players per squad.   The following girls will be "dressing" for the match:

Warde

Kao, Cherie

Reilly

Price

Gonnelli

Pluta-Ehlers

Uhouse

Boenning

Wagner

To

Wu

Nicholson

Boyle

Trella

Chu

Fan

Harrison

Prabhu

All other members of the girls team will be required to travel to the event.   All girls team members are to wear their blues to-and-from the event.    Anyone wishing to go home with their parents will be released at the end of the event.

We want to encourage all parents (including the parents of the members of the boys team) to come and support the girls team at this event.   Columbia will have ALL of its fencers and parents at the event since both their boys and girls teams made the "Final Four" and will be playing tomorrow night.   We need a LOUD cheering section for our girls.   Winning a bronze medal (especially against Columbia) would be a good way to go into the off-season!

Besides, we want all the boys to see the excitement of the event so that they can appreciate what will (hopefully) be their Final Four appearance next year.

WEAR BLUE AND RED!

Coach Paragano

Here is the information for this weekend's Squad States competitions, both of which are at 

North Hunterdon High School map

All fencing starts at 10:30 a.m.    Anticipated completion:  4:00 pm

BRING TOURNAMENT FOODS

GIRLS - Saturday - 

The bus will leave GLHS at 7:30 a.m. sharp.    Players will be responsible for getting their own rides home.

The entire team will be traveling.   However, since NJSIAA limits the number of players who can "dress" for the competition (5 per squad), only certain players will be equipped for competition.   All others will be in "BLUES".

Here is the list of those who will "Dress":

Foil

Grace Boyle

Aileen Trella

Taia Harrison

Kara Fan

Vivian Chu

Saber

Alaina Uhouse

Brittin Boenning

Lauren Wagner

Zoe To

Alicia Wu

Epee

Colleen Reilly

Amanda Price

Naomi Warde

Cherie Kao

Arabella Pluta-Ehlers

We will be wearing Red-and-White socks.     NOTE:   THE NJSiAA CHARGES a small admission fee to spectators/parents for this event.    There is food for sale.   HOwever, ALL PLAYERS ARE TO BRING THEIR OWN FOODS (TOURNAMENT FOOD).

BOYS - SUnday

There will be NO BUS for the boys team since we did not qualify all 3 squads.    The boys foil and saber squads will be responsible for their own rides to and from the competition.   Plan to be arrive at North Hunterdon High School by no later than 8:30 a.m. (it is about an hour trip).

The following boys will dress:

Saber

Jason Yang

Ryan Donohue

Aidan King

Eric Shen

Ian Fan

Foil

Zach Friedlander

Jordan Pagano

Eric Weng

Ryan Rossman

Matthew Dobrowsky

Again, all non-dressers are to be in blues.   All dressers are to be in red-and-white socks.    Tournament foods only.    

In each case, expected pick up is around 4 pm.

Coach Paragano

Tonite's Playoff -- A Preview Link from Patch.com

Here is a link to an on-line article about tonite's playoff meet:

http://berkeleyheights.patch.com/articles/gl-girls-fencing-team-faces-rival-tonight-for-chance-to-advance-to-state-final

Girls Great-8 Playoff and Report times

Dear GL Fencers and Families,

Tomorrow's report time and details are as follow:

-- All fencers (Girls and Boys) are to report to CMS for 4:30 pm for "dynamic stretching" (our normal stretch routine).

-- At 5:15 pm, the Girls will return to the Music Room to relax and go over last-minute strategies.   The Boys will commence set up of the gym for the Playoff.

-- At 5:45 pm, the Girls will dress in electric and take to the strips to spar (until 6:15 pm or so).

-- The meet will start at 7:00 pm.

The girls should DEFINITELY bring snacks, water, etc. for consumption during the interval between stretches and strip sparring.

TOMORROW's sock colors are blue and white (N.H. dresses in Red and White).

See you all tomorrow,
Coach Paragano

Next Big Hurdle GL Fencing v. North Highlands Semi Final

Dear GL Fencers, Families and Friends:

The next big hurdle for the GL Girls Fencing team is this coming Tuesday night at 7 pm at the Columbia Middle School Gym when we take on (Defending Champion) Northern Highlands.

We need everyone there to make the gym as raucous as possible.    We have been gearing up for this rematch since last year's Finals...and now is our chance to knock them out of the hunt.

Please show up -- with your families and friends -- and wear Red and Blue in support of our Girls Team!

See you all there on Tuesday.

Coach   Paragano