We’ve spent time honoring our seniors over the course of the last semester – now it’s time to start getting to know the newcomers, the Class of 2024! We’ll take a team-by-team look at our first-year students throughout the coming weeks, from the Fall athletes who will be making the varsity debuts later in 2021 to the Spring players that we will keep our fingers crossed about seeing in action later this semester.

We continue our New To The Judges’ Bench feature with men’s and women's fencing!

DANIEL LEE – FOIL – JERICHO, NEW YORK – JERICHO

• A three-sport athlete at Jericho High School, playing soccer and running track in addition to fencing
• Member of the Long Island High School Championship team in 2018
• His brother is a sophomore at Brandeis
• Named first-team All-CHL and All-District every season starting her sophomore year, adding All-State honors as a junior and senior
• Planned Major: undecided
• COACH SALMON: Daniel uses strength and quickness along with creative risk-taking to control the bouts he fences.  A confident southpaw, the angles he executes will challenge his teammates in practice as well as his opponents. It is great to bring another left-handed fencer into the training room after losing a couple to graduation.

BERWYN LU – SABRE – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – LOVETT SCHOOL

• Member of Arsenal Fencing Club in Marietta, Georgia
• Planned Major: Economics
• Favorite place to travel: Italy
• Favorite movie: The Great Gatsby
• Favorite TV Show: The Get Down
• Favorite song: Location by Khalid
• Favorite pro team: Atlanta United (MLS)
• COACH SALMON: Berwyn is a sophomore transfer to our program.  Prior to entering college, he was well known on the national circuit.  We are thrilled to have him reignite his passion for the sport here at Brandeis.  Berwyn takes smart risks in the middle that many fencers won't execute successfully.  His confidence and technique will serve him well and his maturity as a competitor is already adding to the level of intensity during practice sessions.  He has great potential to achieve in the NCAA.

NICHOLAS QUAN – SABRE – MOUNT SINAI, NEW YORK – MOUNT SINAI

• Received a B-19 rating as a fencer for coach Salmon at Mission Fencing Club
• Placed 3^rd at the Division II North American Cup in Salt Lake City in 2019
• Planned Major: Computer Science
• The thing that most attracted me to Brandeis: The inclusivity of students and the research focused academics
• Favorite part of competing at Brandeis: Being able to meet and fence against people from all around the country
• Favorite high school class: World History because I have always been fascinated with learning about other's cultures and pasts
• I want to study abroad in: Korea because I am fascinated by their culture and food as well as their fencing styles
• Dream job: a chef because I love being able to make others happy through my cooking
• Favorite movie: Bee Movie
• Favorite book: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
• The actor who would play me in the movie of my life: Ken Jeong
• Most memorable sports moment: Team USA's comeback in the semi-finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Saber (featuring Tim Morehouse ’00!)
• Dream Final Jeopardy! Category: Mythology
• COACH SALMON: As a sabrist, Nick's flexibility and quickness set him apart.  His developed attack is devastating and his tall stature often gives him an advantage on defense as well.  He will be able to grab onto this advantage early in his competitive bouts, and his ability to adjust will bring him much success.  Nick is a very team-oriented person and it has been a pleasure hearing his voice encouraging and celebrating his teammates as we train.

  LUKE RITCHIE – FOIL – BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL

• In addition to his fencing, competed in four different sports at St. Paul’s School in Maryland – tennis, squash, soccer and track and field
• A two-time USA Fencing First Team All-American and a second-team All-Academic Team selection
• Coached at a non-profit fencing camp in Baltimore   
• Planned major: Undecided
• Favorite high school moment: Winning bronze at the Division 1A National Championships in 2019
• Favorite high school class: English
• Favorite place to travel: The beach with my family
• Dream job: Pediatric oncologist
• Favorite movie: Land of the Lost
• Favorite TV show: American Horror Story
• Favorite Song: Flashing Lights by Kanye West
• Favorite Twitter/Instagram follow: David Goggins (@davidgoggins) because he is so crazy in a way that is really motivating.
• COACH SALMON: Luke comes to us with an impressive resume of national success, including a bronze medal at the 2019 Division IA National Championships.  He is an extremely hard worker, a technician and very efficient in his use of timing and distance to create both defensive and offensive actions. His rise in the sport has been quite impressive and I expect him to be an impact player throughout the years he competes for our program.

ANGELA SHI – EPEE – PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY – WEST WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO

• As a junior, helped West Windsor-Plainsboro High School place third in the district epee team championships
• Planned major: Psychology
• Favorite high school sports moment: Winning the deciding bout against our rival high school
• Favorite high school subject: Graphic engineering
• Thing that attracted me to Brandeis: The psychology program
• Favorite place to travel: National Parks
• Favorite movie: Flying Colors
• Favorite TV show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Favorite book: My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
• COACH SALMON: Angela's strong defensive and counteroffensive style is a great addition to our Women's Epee program.  She arrived here with solid technique and maturity in her ability to balance patience with full commitment in her actions that will serve her well on the collegiate strip.  Her experience as a high school team fencer will make her transition to collegiate team competition seamless.  She knows that every touch counts!

BEN WANG – EPEE – HEHEI, CHINA – WESTON (MASSACHUSETTS)

• Planned Major: computer science and/or economics
• Also hopes to get involved in student government
• Favorite high school class: Cooking
• Someone who has been helping me get through COVID-19: Gordon Ramsay
• Favorite place to travel: Switzerland
• Place I want to study abroad: China, because my grandparents are there
• Summer job: Served as a teaching assistant and as an intern at a bio company
• Favorite movie: John Wick
• Favorite TV show: The Flash
• Favorite song: Rap God by Eminem
• The performer who would play me in the movie of my life: Terry Crews
• Favorite pro team: Boston Celtics
• Dream Final Jeopardy! Category: Steve Irwin
• COACH SALMON: At 6-5, Ben is the second tallest member of our men's epee squad.  He mixes a classic style using a French grip to create an extended defensive distance with a well-timed attack.  His ability to combine patience with a surprising offense makes him unpredictable and strategically quite effective.  As we build his physical strength and speed, we look forward to seeing how he will develop into a top collegiate epeeist.