B-BP Fencing Champ is Tops in his Sport

Bayport-Blue Point High School senior Marcus Russo has been named
one of the top two foils from Suffolk County and a member of the 2013 All-Long Island Fencing Team.

The talented student-athlete has been a part of the combined Brentwood-Bayport-Blue Point Fencing Team for the past four years and has been an avid fencer since the age of 10.

Marco finished this year’s season with a stellar record of only two losses and more than 30 wins. As part of the team, Marcus competed in the foil category, one of the sport’s three weapons of choice.

“Fencing piqued my interest after my mom Maureen brought it to my attention, and because it is more of a mental sport than a physical one,” said Marcus.

“Just like with a game of chess, in fencing you have to focus on strategies, be able to anticipate your opponent’s moves and be ready to react quickly.”

In addition to his All-Long Island status, Marcus will be competing in this
year’s All-County meet in late February and hopes to continue to practice fencing in the future, describing it as a “lifetime sport.”

Based on regional qualifications, he will also be competing with the USA Fencing League during upcoming tournaments and continue his training at Mission Fencing in Rocky Point.

“Marcus deserves a lot of credit for all of the time and effort he puts into this
sport,” stated Timothy Mullins, the district’s director of physical education, health and interscholastic sports, making special note that Marcus would need to travel to and from the Brentwood School District for his regular practices. “He is a terrific athlete and student, and he is much deserving of this honor.”

The combined fencing team, which is coached by Brentwood’s Mike Corona,
finished this season with a winning 11-3 record and missed their chance at a run for the county title by only one point in a match against Ward Melville High School.

At the end of the season, the team was ranked fifth on Long Island and the foil team was ranked second in their league after coming in second at the Huntington Relays.