Livingston High Fencing Teams Make Their Point

The Essex County Freeholders recognized last week Livingston High's Edward Chin, the state's sabre champion, and girls head coach George Janto.

“Freeholder [Len] Luciano and I are especially proud to make these presentations because of our close ties to Livingston High School”, said Freeholder Vice President Patricia Sebold, who explained that she has been a Livingston resident for 51 years, her two children are LHS graduates, and her grandson is a current student."

The following was submitted by the Essex County Freeholders:

Edward Chin, a 17-year old senior and captain of the Livingston Boys Fencing Team, won his individual state championship in the sabre on March 1st, making him the first fencer from Livingston to ever win an individual state championship.  He also won the silver medal at the District 3 Championships, and was named to the 1st Team All-State by The Star-Ledger.

In addition to fencing for his high school team, Chin fences on the national and international levels as well.  Nationally, he has competed in all Cadet, Junior and Division I competitions, and won a gold medal at the Junior Olympic Championships this past February.  He is currently ranked #6 in the nation, and is the 3rd alternate for the Junior National Team.  Internationally, he was a member of the U. S. Cadet National Team for the 2012-2013 season, won a silver medal at the 2012 Cadet World Cup in Poland, and a bronze medal at the 2012 Cadet World Cup in Hungary.  As one of the Top 12 Junior fencers in the nation, he also competed with Team USA at the Junior World Cup. 

Chin is also an outstanding student; his favorite subject is Math and he is enrolled in AP Statistics and AP Calculus AB.  He also plays the guitar and volunteered at Liberty Science Center the last 2 summers.  In his junior year, he was Livingston High School’s recipient of the “Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award” from the West Point Society of New Jersey, which is awarded to high school juniors who exhibit exceptional performance and potential in the areas of academics, athletics, community service, good citizenship and leadership.  He is the son of Tong and Ping Chin, has a brother, David, and will attend Princeton University in the fall where he plans to study economics or mathematics.

“Eddie, on behalf of the entire Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, it is our honor to present you with this Commendation for winning the Individual State Sabre Championship, but also for being the outstanding student and young man you are," Sebold said. “Congratulations, and best wishes at Princeton!”

Accepting his Commendation, Chin thanked his high school coach (Alex Delaney) saying that if not for him, he wouldn’t be where he is today in the sport of fencing because, “he allowed me to miss high school team practices in order to train in Manhattan (at the Manhattan Fencing Center) with some of the best fencers in the world, and to accomplish as much as I have nationally and internationally.”  He also thanked the freeholders for honoring him saying, “It’s really humbling to be here today.  Thank you.”

Coach George Janto joined Livingston’s fencing program in 2010 as the varsity boys coach, and led his team to a No. 8 ranking and the District 3 sabre squad title.  He then became the girls head coach in 2011, and in short order built a tradition of success and pride.  His teams have advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament ever since, finishing 4th in 2012 and 2013, and 3rd this season.  Last year’s girls’ team won the overall Santelli Tournament, its épée squad finished in 1st place, and at the District 3 championships the team won the overall championship and the épée squad won the squad championship.  This year’s sabre squad captured the District 3 championship.  Before coming to Livingston, Coach Janto coached at Columbia High School, first as a volunteer foil coach from 2004-08, and then as head coach of the boys team.

Janto has also been a leader in the growth and refinement of youth fencing across the state as an organizer of United States Fencing Association (USFA) tournaments, and as a member of the USFA’s Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Development Committee.  In addition to this year’s recognition, he was also named the 2013 New Jersey State “Fencing Coach of the Year” by the NJSIAA and the National Federation of High Schools.

Coach Janto grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., where he earned a degree in Modern European History. He is the owner/operator of New Jersey Fencing Software, LLC, and a partner in Escrime Management.  He resides in Maplewood with his wife Susana Caparros, and they raised 2 daughters, Carly and Abigail.

“Coach, we want to congratulate you for your success in building a powerhouse program at Livingston High School and for your outstanding career”, said Sebold, “and especially for being named this year’s New Jersey Girls ‘Fencing Coach of the Year.'"

“It’s very humbling to receive this award”, said Janto, who explained that he was at the Hall of Records seven years earlier when his daughter, Abigail, was honored by the freeholders for being named the New Jersey “Fencer of the Year” by The Star-Ledger, “and it is because of her that I got involved in the sport and became a coach.”  

He also remarked, “We sit in the epicenter of fencing in the United States. There are probably more members of the USFA here in Essex County than in any other suburban county in the country”, and concluded his remarks by saying, “It really is an honor to receive this award, and I will hang it on the wall at home right next to my daughter’s.”