Newsday's All-Long Island girls fencing team 2026
Newsday's 2026 All Long-Island girls fencing team. Back row, from left: Shelly Banegas, Caelan Bues, Sophie Chen and coach Catie Sagevick. Front row, from left: Gabriella Sherlock and Olivia Voskov. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Newsday Fencer of the Year: Sophie Chen, Newfield/Miller Place, Foil, Jr.
When it comes to setting the bar for girls fencing on Long Island, there’s nowhere else to look other than Sophie Chen.
She won all 39 of her regular-season bouts and went 3-0 in the playoffs against Lindenhurst. Chen also won gold at the county individual tournament, out-touching her four pool opponents and two direct elimination bouts by a staggering 50-6 difference.
“What she expects from herself is big, and she delivers,” Newfield/Miller Place coach Jess Palmacio said. “So, she has to enjoy the fact that she delivered, give herself a little bit of credit for it and just keep it moving. She kept it moving better this year, better than any year before, even if she let up a silly touch.”
Sophie Chen of Newfield/Miller Place. Credit: Sam Johnston
That said, Chen rarely allowed a touch at all. Palmacio said Chen never allowed more than three touches in a single bout this season, with the junior beating her opponents to an absurd 195-22 difference.
Palmacio also praised the fifth-year varsity fencer’s growth.
“I give her a little bit more trust than you might expect when you’re talking about a teenager,” Palmacio said. “But that’s just something she’s earned.”
FIRST TEAM
Shelly Banegas, Lindenhurst, Sabre, Sr.
An ACL injury sidelined Banegas last winter, and she returned with a 36-3 record plus a gold medal at the county individual tournament. She went 6-0 across two playoff meets.
Caelan Bues, Huntington/Harborfields, Epee, Jr.
Topping off a remarkable 36-0 season with a gold medal at the county individual tournament is no small feat, but it’s exactly what Bues managed to do this winter. She also helped Huntington/Harborfields reach the county final.
Esha Nayak, Syosset, Sabre, Sr.
Yet again, Nayak proved she’s among the best on Long Island, winning 31 of her 32 regular-season bouts and taking gold at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament.
Gabriella Sherlock, Oyster Bay, Foil, Sr.
Sherlock won all 21 of her bouts and took gold at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament. She also won silver at the Nassau individual championships.
Olivia Voskov, Wheatley/Roslyn, Epee, Fr.
The freshman captured gold at Nassau’s individual championships and led the county in epee wins with her 26-4 record. She also secured bronze at the Manhasset Invitational.
Coach of the Year: Catie Sagevick, Great Neck South
An undefeated campaign leaves little doubt, something Sagevick and the Rebels accomplished this winter with a 14-0 record. Great Neck South won its second Long Island title in three years.
SECOND TEAM
Illana Cai, Jericho, Foil, Fr.
A bright future awaits Cai, who has already captured a gold medal at the county individual championships and helped the Jayhawks reach the county final. She went 30-2 in the regular season and 7-1 in the Nassau playoffs.
Kaitlyn Chan, Jericho, Foil, Fr.
Chan won 26 of her 28 regular-season bouts, taking bronze at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament. She also took fourth at the county individual tournament and went undefeated against Garden City (2-0), Syosset (3-0) and Great Neck South (3-0) in the playoffs.
Maya Funatomi, Syosset, Epee, Soph.
Funatomi captured gold at both the Brentwood Holiday Tournament and the Manhasset Invitational, finishing the season with a 20-3 regular-season record.
Allie Harrison, Ward Melville/PJ/RP, Sabre, Jr.
Harrison led her team to its third consecutive county title this winter, finishing with a perfect 39-0 regular-season record and taking bronze at the Suffolk individual championships. She also went 2-0 in the county final against Huntington/Harborfields.
Ashley Nguyen, Great Neck South, Epee, Sr.
Nguyen guided Great Neck South to a Long Island title, going 4-0 in the playoffs to pair with her 25-5 regular-season record. She also took silver at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament and bronze at the county individual championships.
Winona Zheng, Syosset, Sabre, 8th grade
Nassau fencing will feature Zheng for some time, with the young phenom going 29-1 in the regular season, winning gold at both the Nassau individual championships and the Manhasset Invitational.
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
