June 16, 2006

FAIRFIELD, CT - Sacred Heart head fencing coach Dr. Thomas Vrabel has announced the recruiting class for the 2006/2007 season and it promises to be the strongest ever for the young program. The Pioneers will have seven newcomers joining the team this fall.

Connecticut First Team All-State selection Nick Bentley (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme HS) leads a group of foilists that includes all Suffolk county selection Chris Fabio (Huntington, NY/Huntington HS), Kyle Dee (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) and transfer Jason Manzella (Long Valley NJ/County College of Morris). Bentley, who is also an accomplished epeeist (CT First Team All-State epee selection) brings a wealth of competitive experience and determination to the team. Manzella, who was a high school team mate of epee squad captain Charlie Thompson, brings a much-needed left-handed perspective to the foil squad.

"We are very fortunate to have four very talented foilists in this group," says Vrabel. "All of these kids are fast, tough, and smart and will be welcome additions to a foil squad that will be led by team captain Lucas Bernacki".

The epee squad will be strengthened with the addition of two talented athletes from Long Island in Brendan Sielaff (Selden, NY/Newfield HS) and Matthew Kennaugh (Huntington, NY/Huntington HS). Both are expected to compete for the starting positions that have opened up due to the graduation of Earl Gendron and last year's team captain Adam Constantine.

"Brendan is our first recruit with success on a national level," says Vrabel. "He placed third in a national Div II tournament in Reno, Nevada in January and both Brendan and Matt competed at the Junior Olympics National Championships in Hartford last February."

They will be joining junior squad captain Charlie Thompson, sophomore Tom Streko and possibly double threat freshman Bentley on an epee squad that should improve over last year's performance.

"The epee squad has been the strength of the team in the past few years and with these new additions it should continue this tradition," says Vrabel.

Saberist Steven Winard (Clarkstown, NY/ Clarkstown North HS) will join a squad that returns squad captain Matthew Laudicina, David Rabinowitz, and Chris Mason. With the loss to graduation of starters Alex Bente and Manuel Calderon, the saber squad is in rebuilding mode, but Vrabel is confidant that the newer squad members will step up to the challenge.

"Dave Rabinowitz came on real strong at the end of last year and should be ready to make a major contribution as a starter," he says. "The third spot will be up for grabs between Mason, Winard, and possibly Tom Streko".

Streko, who was new to fencing last year after having a successful high school career as a hockey goalie, concentrated on epee last year. With the dynamic situation in the saber squad this year and with the addition of Sielaff, Kennaugh, and Bentley to the epee equation , Streko will be adding his speed and quickness to the saber squad as well.

"We are very fortunate to have so many men on the team this year that have multi weapon talent," says Vrabel. "This gives us great flexibility in the event of injury and also allows for much more competition in practice."

"We will be very young this year but with the experience and leadership of Bernacki, Thompson and Laudicina coupled with the incoming talent we look to improve on last year's 5-9 record and are moving toward our goal of making Sacred Heart Fencing a top twenty NCAA program in four years."