Page 28 - North Haven Magazine Issue 39 Summer 2025

FENCING
THE

AT NORTH HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL

he history of fencing at North Haven High School dates back to
1973, when science teacher Jerry Robbins agreed to become the
Tadvisor for a handful of students who had recently formed a fenc-
ing club. Just seven years later in 1980, the fencing club became an
official sport at the high school level. Since this time, the fencing team
has enjoyed a rich and illustrious history. Within three years of becom-
ing a sport, the fencing team won its first state championship. There
would be many championships to follow. Prior to this season, the Boys
Fencing team has won state titles in 1983, 1987, 1994, 2004, 2005,
2007, 2008, 2009, and 2020. The girls have won state championships
in 1998, 2000, 2010, 2018, and 2024.
2024-2025 North Haven Fencing Team

by Mike Proto epee won the state championship for the
first time since 2010.”
The current head coach of the Boys and Girls
Fencing team, Jim Harris, is very familiar with This year’s fencing team has once again had
the rich history of fencing at North Haven. A an outstanding season. The boys finished the
1996 graduate of North Haven High School, regular season with an 11-9 record, while
he fenced during his junior and senior years. the girls finished at 17–3. In the state tour-
After spending the next four years at the nament held on March 8th at Morgan High
University of Notre Dame, where he was School, the team performed exceptionally
a member of their fencing team, he came well. The girls’ foil team earned third place,
back to North Haven and accepted an assis- Senior Night photo of Captains. and the women’s sabre team won the state
tant coaching position under his former high (L-R) Coach Harris, Emily, Nina, Anna, Coach Stu championship. In commenting on the perfor-
school coach and 2011 NHHS Hall of Fame While Coach Harris and the team have faced mance of both the boys and girls, Coach Har-
inductee, Lucienne Coifman. When Coach significant challenges in the ensuing years, ris said, “It’s really incredible what the girls
Coifman retired at the end of the 2001-2002 they have been met with much success. As accomplished. Our women’s epee squad
season, Harris took over as the head coach. stated by Harris, “When I came back, we won a state title this year and went wire-to-
He coached the team for the next six years, were in the middle of COVID restrictions – wire as conference champs. The boys lost a
from 2002 to 2008. During this time, the the season itself was only going to be a cou- close one to Fairfield (5-3), who went on to
fencing team won 5 state championships (3 ple of months, and we were only allowed to win the state title. We then lost to Guilford
in foil and 2 in epee). He then decided to run fence a few area schools. We were also very in the bronze medal match. They were a bit
his own fencing studio and worked in this ca- short-handed, particularly on the women’s disappointed because they had state title
pacity until 2016, when he once again began team, as we did not have enough fencers to aspirations, but they fenced great. The girls’
coaching at the high school level as a volun- field full squads. The following year (2021- foil team did amazing work, beating Cheshire
teer assistant at Morgan High School under 22), we were able to have a mostly normal in the first round. Then they lost to eventu-
one of his mentors, Jim Barnett. season, but our entire women’s team had al state champion, Guilford, and rebounded
graduated with the exception of three fenc- against Morgan to take third place in the
Early in 2021, Harris received a call from ers. At that time, we were fortunate to have state. The girls’ sabre team beat Guilford,
North Haven Athletic Director Steve Blu- a large number of girls try out for the team, 5-1, then beat Morgan, 5-3, and went on to
menthal, who asked if he knew of anyone and virtually all of them were thrown into beat Hopkins in the finals, 5-4. Nina Novicki
that might be interested in taking over the varsity as first year fencers. While it was won the last bout, 5-4, to clinch the title.”
head coaching position at North Haven. The challenging for them, those girls became the
fencing program at North Haven was in dis- backbone of the team that has had so much Anyone who has spent time around this
array because the team had been coached success the last two years. 2021 was also the year’s fencing team is not surprised by the re-
by three different people in the three pre- first year I was able to work with Stu Holmes, sults. Since returning to North Haven, Coach
ceding years, and it was in desperate need who has been our assistant coach for the Harris has created a culture that not only en-
of a coach who could bring stability back past four years. Stu is an incredible foil fenc- sures success on the field of play but also in
to the program. After much consideration, er and coach and has raised the quality of life. In speaking about his goals as a coach,
Harris decided to take on the challenge and our foil squads to incredible levels. In 2024, Harris said, “My coaching philosophy centers
once again became the head fencing coach our men’s foil team won their first-ever con- on creating an atmosphere where athletes
at North Haven. ference championship, and our women’s are set up for success, while also pushing
them to exceed their own expectations. My

28 North Haven Magazine - Summer 2025