Northampton High School fencing team captain Willa Barman went undefeated at the Drew Page Memorial Open on Sunday in the Senior Women’s Epee competition – earning her a gold medal.

Barman put everything together in the final round, winning by a whopping 11 points (15-4) in a dominant showing against a fencer with a much higher rating. In the semifinals, Barman defeated Mila Covino in a close 15-14 battle. Aside from that one-point victory, Barman won every match by eight points or more.

After going 4-0 on the day, Barman earned a D24 rating in epee. She came in with an “E” rating, and climbed up to “D” thanks to an impressive outing.

The rating system is rather simple. Every fencer starts at “U,” or unclassified, then moves up to “E” and can get as high as “A.” The number represents the year it was earned. Thus, Barman is now a D24 rated fencer.

The Blue Devils junior trains at Pioneer Valley Fencing Academy in Easthampton under fencing master Paul Sise. She is also a certified fencing coach and helps teach a youth class at PVFA.

Back in mid-October, another Northampton High School junior won gold, as Noah Bradbury claimed first in a men’s saber competition to earn an E24 rating. Bradbury also trains with Sise at PVFA.

Noah Bradbury is the men's saber captain for Northampton High, and he earned an E24 rating in saber.