BRIGHT-EYED AND brave, the Ateneo Women’s Fencing Team returns to the piste with new players and familiar faces. Eager to pierce through their third-place finish in UAAP Season 82, the Blue Eagles aim to come back with packed pinpoint precision and rapid reflex in their grip.

Leading the squad is captain and foil specialist Jessica Khoo alongside seniors Aly Hernandez, Bea Balatbat, Jazmine Munoz, and Sophia Sunson. Standout recruit and Southeast Asian Fencing Federation silver medalist Kaku Dela Serna joins them in their campaign. With Head Coach Ryan Janeo spearheading the team, the newfound sense of camaraderie between seasoned seniors and their developing rookies uplifts their grit in the face of fierce competition.

Welcoming a number of new fencers behind the hilt, the team now emphasizes teamwork and open communication, lending them the confidence they need in their fight for the gold. Although fencing tests an individual’s skill and strategy, optimism and synergy will be their valued weapons as they charge blade-to-body with their opponents this season.