Newsday's All-Long Island boys fencing team 2026

Newsday Fencer of the Year: Brandon Lim, Syosset, Sabre, Sr.

Syosset coach Deniz Berkay described sabreist Brandon Lim as “a rocket.”

“He sees no limits. He’s shooting for the sky, and he’s not coming back down,” Berkay said.

Lim is Newsday’s boys fencer of the year after boasting a 25-0 record across the regular season and postseason. He added a gold medal at the Nassau individual championships and a silver medal at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament, finishing just one touch away from gold.

Fencing is also about family for Lim, whose sister, Alexa, competes as a sabreist as well. Their father, Herman, is a constant supporter at Syosset’s fencing meets, where his kids give him plenty to be proud of.

Few fencers exhibit more passion and glee after winning a bout than Lim. Now he is one of two Long Island boys fencers, alongside Syosset foilist Justin Guo, to go undefeated across the regular season and playoffs. There’s a reason why Berkay described Lim as “extraordinary.”

“He really tries his best to make everyone better,” Berkay said. “I think he’s really the perfect example of what you want an athlete to be.”

FIRST TEAM

William Dreyer, Ward Melville/PJ/RP/Com, Sabre, Sr.

Dreyer went 35-1 — helping his team reach the county final — and captured gold at the Suffolk individual tournament. He also won gold at the Manhasset Invitational and tied for bronze at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament.

Charles Lee, Wheatley/Roslyn, Foil, Jr.

Lee captured Nassau’s foil title and helped Wheatley/Roslyn reach the county championship. He went 26-2 and has not lost a regular-season bout since his freshman season.

Justin Guo, Syosset, Foil, Sr.

Guo took silver only behind Charles Lee’s gold in the Nassau individual championships, going 31-0 across the regular season and playoffs this winter for Syosset. He also took gold at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament.

Max Tse, Great Neck South, Epee, Soph.

Winning 28 of your 29 bouts isn’t a bad way to end your sophomore season. Tse won gold at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament and the Nassau individual championships for a Great Neck South squad that won the Long Island championship meet.

Jerry Wu, Half Hollow Hills, Epee, Jr.

Wu defended his Suffolk epee title this winter, finishing 24-4 across the regular season and postseason for Half Hollow Hills. He also took silver at the Manhasset Invitational.

Coach of the Year: Tim Kunz, Commack/Northport

In his first year at the helm, Kunz and his fencers enjoyed a terrific winter campaign. Commack/Northport rallied as a No. 4 seed to beat annual contenders in top-seeded Half Hollow Hills and No. 2 Newfield/Miller Place to take the program’s first county title in four years.

SECOND TEAM

Gavin Berkowitz, Syosset, Sabre, Soph.

Berkowitz took silver at the county individual championships, finishing with a 25-1 record.

Amir Karimov, Great Neck South, Epee, Jr.

He went 31-1 for the Rebels, helping them capture their second Long Island title in three years. Karimov also captured bronze at the individual championships.

Patrick Klinkenberg, Whitman/Glenn, Epee, Sr.

The standout senior went 27-3 and took silver at the Suffolk epee championships.

Marc Lindemann, Newfield/Miller Place, Foil, Sr.

Lindemann went 38-1 and took silver at the county individual tournament. He helped his team reach the county final.

Yannik Reyes, Ward Melville/PJ/RP/Com, Foil, Soph.

The Rocky Point standout is a star in the making, taking gold at the Suffolk individual championships, silver at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament and finishing with a 31-5 regular-season record for a county finalist Ward Melville program.

Sohan Shah, Syosset, Sabre, Jr.

The sabre champion at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament, Shah went 23-1 and took bronze at the Nassau individual championships.