Oyster Bay High School fencers win big at Brentwood Holiday Tournament

I’m really proud of them. These kids just gave it their all.”

John Bruckner, fencing coach, Oyster Bay High School

Three Oyster Bay High School fencers recently took part in the invitation-only Brentwood Holiday Tournament, and dueled their way to several silver and bronze medals, showcasing their skills amid a field of skilled competitors.

Led by longtime coach John Bruckner and assistant coach Ian Bozsnyak, fencers Nick Ramirez, a senior, Scarlett Shelley, a junior, Gabriella Sherlock, a sophomore, and freshman Luke Kugler — the smallest Long Island squad to compete — the fencers clinched four awards during the intense tournament on Dec. 16.

Bruckner noted that Oyster Bay has been a center for fencing on Long Island since the 1960s, and Bruckner himself was captain of the high school team in 1975, when it went undefeated. He added that the school district was one of the first on Long Island, and the first in Nassau County, to develop a fencing program, and he emphasized how proud he was of his players, who carried on that legacy.

“They went up against the best kids on the Island, and these are eventually the kids they’re going to face in college,” Bruckner said. “I’m really proud of them. These kids just gave it their all.”

Kugler and Sherlock earned silver medals in men’s épée and women’s foil, respectively. Both athletes compete not only for the high school, but for club teams as well, honing their skills year-round.

Sherlock was returning to competition after recovering from a hamstring injury. “It marked my first tournament in the last four months,” she said. “Each bout, I was just reminding myself, ‘One touch at a time.’”

Shelley earned the bronze medal in women’s saber, while Ramirez won bronze in men’s saber. Shelley said she focused on staying out of her own way, and finished third in the tournament for the second year in a row.

“When I was ever down or just not doing well, I would take a step back and reset the score in my head,” Shelley said. “I would tell myself ‘You got this, Scarlett. You can do this. I know I can do this.’”

Shelley and Ramirez starting fencing under Bruckner in seventh grade, and have improved consistently in the years since. Involved in club fencing and taking private lessons as well, they have dedicated themselves to the high school fencing program.

Ramirez, who was named to Nassau County’s All-Long Island second team last year, said he was driven to improve on his sixth-place finish in last year’s tournament. He also battled through sickness during the competition, feeling lightheaded at times and nearly passing out at one point.

“Going into this, I wanted to win,” Ramirez said. “It became a battle of just keep going, one bout at a time, each touch, and I ended up doing well, so I was really happy with that.”