Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Stephen Carrera
Wildcats Sign Five to Class of 2020
2/10/2016 10:42:00 AM | Women's Fencing
EVANSTON, Ill. - Women's fencing coach Laurie Schiller announced on Wednesday the signing of five of the nation's finest high school fencers, who will join Northwestern for the 2016-17 season.
Aahana Chatterjee, Shirley Luong, Adelle Berdichevsky, Pauline Hamilton and Alexandra Banin comprise the fencing team's Class of 2020. The signees come from high schools across the United States: two from New York and one each from New Jersey, California and Colorado. All attended high school in the U.S., though three were born internationally: Chatterjee (Mumbai, India), Luong (Guangzhou, China) and Banin (London, England). The incoming class will help replenish a squad with six seniors moving on after this year.
"We are very excited about the potential within this class," assistant coach Zach Moss said. "It's great to bring in a strong epee class like this one to help fill the void from our graduating seniors. We cannot wait to get them on campus to see the positive impact they have on our fencing team and on the Northwestern community."
Moss will take over as head coach of the fencing program next season after the retirement of current coach Laurie Schiller at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season. Schiller is wrapping up a tremendous 38-year career at the helm in Evanston and will retire with more than 1,250 victories, the second-most in collegiate fencing history.
Full player bios and comments from Moss and Schiller can be found below.
Aahana Chatterjee
Princeton Jct., N.J./The Lawrenceville School
High School/Club: Captained her women's varsity fencing team that went undefeated from 2013 to 2015 … High school epee squad finished first in 2014 Santelli Tournament, the biggest high school tournament in New Jersey … Named to NJ.com's list of "Women Fencers to Watch in the '14-15 season."
Personal: Born in Mumbai, India … Represented India internationally on the Cadet world circuit in Grenoble, France … National Merit Commended Scholar and Dean's List student in high school … Considering major in Economics and Biology
Coach Moss on Chatterjee: "Aahana impressed us with her team-oriented, positive attitude. She is not afraid of hard work and has demonstrated an unrelenting desire to improve her game."
Shirley Luong
Arcadia, Calif./Maranatha
High School/Club: Part of club team Fortune Fencing that finished 6th at the 2014 Div. 2 Women's Epee National Championships … Fortune Fencing team finished 1st at the 2014 Div. 2 Stro Memorial ROC
Personal: Born in Guangzhou, China … Part of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation in high school … Considering major in Economics and International Studies
Coach Schiller on Luong: "We are excited to have Shirley join our epee squad. She will have an excellent chance to make an immediate impact on the team. She is a solid fencer with a great deal of potential."
Adelle Berdichevsky
Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial
High School/Club: Competed with club Fencing Academy of Westchester for seven years … Club finished second at Junior Olympics in Junior Women's Epee
Personal: Member of National Honor Society and Honor Roll in high school … Anticipated major is Economics
Coach Moss on Berdichevsky: "Adelle's sunny disposition and positive nature disguise a competitive drive that shows itself every time she competes. We are eager to see Adelle's potential unleashed in college competition."
Pauline Hamilton
Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain
High School/Club: Ranked amongst top 15 Juniors in 2014-15 season … Finished 12th at the Cadet Circuit in Sweden … Finished 6th at January 2015 NAC … Finished 8th at the 2014 Junior Olympics
Personal: Member of National Honor Society in high school … Anticipated majors in Neuroscience and Sociology
Coach Moss on Hamilton: "Pauline is soft-spoken off the strip but ferocious on it. Her athleticism and competitive nature will bring a great dynamic to our team. We are excited for the immediate contributions Pauline will make for our epee squad."
Alexandra Banin
New York, N.Y./Horace Mann
High School/Club: Qualified for Junior Olympics in every year since 2011 … Won all pool bouts at the 2014 November NAC in Cadet
Personal: Born in London, England
Coach Moss on Banin: "Alex's work ethic and upbeat personality struck us immediately. She is determined, enthusiastic and will make a phenomenal teammate. We cannot wait to see Alex working with and pushing our team."
Aahana Chatterjee, Shirley Luong, Adelle Berdichevsky, Pauline Hamilton and Alexandra Banin comprise the fencing team's Class of 2020. The signees come from high schools across the United States: two from New York and one each from New Jersey, California and Colorado. All attended high school in the U.S., though three were born internationally: Chatterjee (Mumbai, India), Luong (Guangzhou, China) and Banin (London, England). The incoming class will help replenish a squad with six seniors moving on after this year.
"We are very excited about the potential within this class," assistant coach Zach Moss said. "It's great to bring in a strong epee class like this one to help fill the void from our graduating seniors. We cannot wait to get them on campus to see the positive impact they have on our fencing team and on the Northwestern community."
Moss will take over as head coach of the fencing program next season after the retirement of current coach Laurie Schiller at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season. Schiller is wrapping up a tremendous 38-year career at the helm in Evanston and will retire with more than 1,250 victories, the second-most in collegiate fencing history.
Full player bios and comments from Moss and Schiller can be found below.
Aahana Chatterjee
Princeton Jct., N.J./The Lawrenceville School
High School/Club: Captained her women's varsity fencing team that went undefeated from 2013 to 2015 … High school epee squad finished first in 2014 Santelli Tournament, the biggest high school tournament in New Jersey … Named to NJ.com's list of "Women Fencers to Watch in the '14-15 season."
Personal: Born in Mumbai, India … Represented India internationally on the Cadet world circuit in Grenoble, France … National Merit Commended Scholar and Dean's List student in high school … Considering major in Economics and Biology
Coach Moss on Chatterjee: "Aahana impressed us with her team-oriented, positive attitude. She is not afraid of hard work and has demonstrated an unrelenting desire to improve her game."
Shirley Luong
Arcadia, Calif./Maranatha
High School/Club: Part of club team Fortune Fencing that finished 6th at the 2014 Div. 2 Women's Epee National Championships … Fortune Fencing team finished 1st at the 2014 Div. 2 Stro Memorial ROC
Personal: Born in Guangzhou, China … Part of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation in high school … Considering major in Economics and International Studies
Coach Schiller on Luong: "We are excited to have Shirley join our epee squad. She will have an excellent chance to make an immediate impact on the team. She is a solid fencer with a great deal of potential."
Adelle Berdichevsky
Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial
High School/Club: Competed with club Fencing Academy of Westchester for seven years … Club finished second at Junior Olympics in Junior Women's Epee
Personal: Member of National Honor Society and Honor Roll in high school … Anticipated major is Economics
Coach Moss on Berdichevsky: "Adelle's sunny disposition and positive nature disguise a competitive drive that shows itself every time she competes. We are eager to see Adelle's potential unleashed in college competition."
Pauline Hamilton
Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain
High School/Club: Ranked amongst top 15 Juniors in 2014-15 season … Finished 12th at the Cadet Circuit in Sweden … Finished 6th at January 2015 NAC … Finished 8th at the 2014 Junior Olympics
Personal: Member of National Honor Society in high school … Anticipated majors in Neuroscience and Sociology
Coach Moss on Hamilton: "Pauline is soft-spoken off the strip but ferocious on it. Her athleticism and competitive nature will bring a great dynamic to our team. We are excited for the immediate contributions Pauline will make for our epee squad."
Alexandra Banin
New York, N.Y./Horace Mann
High School/Club: Qualified for Junior Olympics in every year since 2011 … Won all pool bouts at the 2014 November NAC in Cadet
Personal: Born in London, England
Coach Moss on Banin: "Alex's work ethic and upbeat personality struck us immediately. She is determined, enthusiastic and will make a phenomenal teammate. We cannot wait to see Alex working with and pushing our team."
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