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Sports
Sports PARK CITIES TEEN SHARPENS FENCING SKILLS ON WORLD STAGE
Choi ranked among top 20 nationally in age group in growing niche sport
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
While millions watched swimmers, gymnasts, and runners at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 9-year-old Silas Choi became fixated on fencing.
Even if he wasn’t sure of the complex rules or the specific tactics, the Park Cities youngster became inspired by the breakthrough for the South Korean team, given his family heritage.
More than six years later, Choi began competing on the international stage and harboring Olympic ambitions in the niche sport.
In November, the young swordsman represented Team USA on the Junior World Cup circuit in the cadet saber class in Bulgaria and Germany. He earned a team bronze medal.
“It’s fun to travel to all of these places,” Choi said. “If you go to lots of national and international tournaments, you get experience and get more motivated in general.”
Choi participates in saber fencing, which differs from the other two disciplines — epee and foil — because the weapon generally prompts a faster pace and more attacking style.
“There’s so many different rules and so
In January, Cistercian sophomore Silas Choi will travel to World Cup saber events in France and Romania. COURTESY CLAUDIA CHOI
many different styles,” he said. “I like that it’s the fastest of the three weapons. I feel it’s also the most exciting.”
He competes for Globus Fencing Academy in Addison under the tutelage of Lee Hyo-kun, a former Olympian and Olympic coach for South Korea.
After earning a silver medal at the USA Fencing Summer Nationals in July in Minneapolis, Choi became one of the country’s top 20 cadet saber fencers, enabling him to qualify for World Cup events. He typically trains for about 15 hours per week and travels for competitions at least once a month.
“We’re really proud of Silas for keeping up fencing with his schoolwork and playing the cello,” said his mother, Claudia. “He just picked it up really quickly and has run with it.”
Choi is a sophomore at Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving, which had fencing incorporated into its physical education curriculum as recently as the 1960s, tracing back to the Hungarian monks who founded the school.
In January, he will travel to World Cup events in France and Romania. He hopes to compete at the collegiate level, with an eye toward Olympic qualification.
While the sport has traditionally been more popular domestically on both coasts, Texas has recently seen a surge at the youth level, which Choi embraces.
“It’s very fast-paced, and there’s lots of spontaneous reactions involved,” Choi said. “It’s a lot more complicated than it seems. You don’t really know what you’re watching until you try it.”
Man of the Mat: HP Senior Overcomes Injuries to Pin Foes Brazilian jiu-jitsu gave Ray a foundation that has translated to wrestling
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
David Ray has conquered almost every rival he’s faced in the high school wrestling ranks. Injuries, however, have been a more difficult opponent.
The Highland Park senior hopes a healthy season will lead to a second consecutive appearance at the UIL state tournament in February after he earned a bronze medal a year ago.
Of course, that was in Class 5A at the 160-pound weight class. Now he’s wrestling at 175 pounds, and the Scots are in Class 6A, making the task more difficult for the two-year team captain.
“When the kid’s healthy, he’s really good,” said longtime HP head coach Tim Marzuola. “He’s got a lot of athletic ability and a lot of explosive power.”
Ray spent almost a decade specializing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, even competing in youth national tournaments, before transitioning his grappling skills to the wrestling mat in high school.
“I decided to do the next closest sport, which was wrestling,” Ray said. “There was a lot of carryover. It’s different, but I just had to adapt.”
Last season, Ray sported a 51-5 record and posted the best finish by an HP wrestler at the state tournament alongside training partner and fellow bronze medalist Jarek Delgado — also a jiu-jitsu aficionado.
“There’s a real strong connection between our style of wrestling and jiu-jitsu,” said Marzuola, recalling former HP wrestler and later mixed-martial arts fighting champion Matt Hobar. “It develops a real patience in kids. They stay calm, and that really translates well.”
Ray spent his freshman season at Plano West, where he was primed for postseason success before suffering a freak injury just before the district tournament. After transferring to HP as a sophomore, Ray broke his ankle during the first week of the pandemic-shortened spring season. Ray tweaked his knee at state last winter and was later hobbled by a hip fracture during the most recent offseason. But he has since regained his strength, leading to an unbeaten start to his senior year. He credits a
It’s different, more cerebral ap proach to prac but I just had to tices and matchadapt. es and an ability to remain levDavid Ray el-headed on the mat. Ray knows he will need those qualities to earn a final shot at state gold. “Just having to adapt to the pressure and control my emotions took a lot of practice,” Ray said. “I used to wrestle angrily and aggressively. Now I’m a lot more controlled and using my brain.”
Lady Scots aim for state tournament return after near-miss last season
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
The sting of just missing a trip to the Class 5A girls soccer state tournament last year has been replaced by a fresh set of expectations for Highland Park.
The Lady Scots have plenty of talent returning and a legacy of postseason success to help ease the transition to Class 6A, which means a schedule upgrade, especially in the playoffs.
“We’re seeing really tough competition,” said HP head coach Aaron McGough. “Our girls just need to understand that every game matters. I think it will be good for us.”
Naturally, the offseason has been smoother for the Lady Scots heading into McGough’s second season at the helm. HP was 24-1-2 in her first year, with the only blemish coming against Frisco Wakeland in the 5A Region II final.
“It’s nice to have the pre-existing relationships this time with the players. They already know what to do and how to do it,” McGough said. “We can push a little more since the girls know us and trust us. Those building blocks are there.”
The roster includes 17 varsity returnees, led by versatile midfield
Arizona signee Ella Weathersby is one of the top returning scorers for Highland Park. CHRIS MCGATHEY
duo Hattie Patterson (a Mississippi signee) and Ella Weathersby (an Arizona signee). Top goalkeeper Claire Binns is back, as is Ellie Jones, last year’s District 135A newcomer of the year who led the Lady Scots in assists. Threeyear starter Emerson Andrews, who verbally committed to Kentucky, anchors the defense.
“We play as a team, and everybody is involved,” McGough said. “Everybody contributes.”
Boys look to continue momentum
On the boys side, Highland Park followed up a district crown last year with three playoff victories before falling to Frisco Lone Star in the 5A Region II semifinals — the program’s deepest postseason run in a decade.
The Scots have earned consecutive district championships for the first time since 1986-87 and will look to continue that success against a tougher nine-team alignment in District 7-6A.
Last year’s 19-3-3 campaign garnered all-region honors for HP head coach Salvador Richie, who has a handful of key returnees to navigate a more challenging
BOYS SCHEDULE
January 3 at Plano West 7:30 p.m. 5 Carr. Newman Smith 7 p.m. 6 Midlothian 7 p.m. 7 Carr. R.L. Turner 3:30 p.m. 10 at Irving* 7 p.m. 12 Tyler^ 3 p.m. 13 FW Trimble Tech^ 3 p.m. 14 at Wichita Falls 1 p.m. 17 at Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m. 20 Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m. 24 Richardson* 7:15 p.m. 27 Jesuit* 7:15 p.m. 31 at Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m. February 3 at Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m. 7 at Jesuit* 7:15 p.m. 10 Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m. 17 at Richardson* 7:15 p.m. 21 at Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m. 24 Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m. 28 Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m. March 7 at Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m. 10 Irving* 7:15 p.m. 17 Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m. * — District 7-6A game ^ — at Wichita Falls
schedule in 2023.
Jack O’Grady was the district’s top newcomer a year ago. He’s joined in the midfield by Rhett Rapuzzi, Gray Godfrey, and Brant Williams. Jake Whitehurst returns
GIRLS SCHEDULE
January 5 Cedar Park 11:30 a.m. 6 Midland Legacy 1 p.m. 7 Mansfield Lake Ridge 2 p.m. 12 Pearland^ 4:20 p.m. 13 Austin Vandegrift^ 6:10 p.m. 14 Klein Oak^ 10:50 a.m. 17 McKinney Boyd 7:30 p.m. 20 at Hockaday 6:30 p.m. 24 at Richardson* 7:15 p.m. 27 at Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m. 31 Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m. February 3 Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m. 7 Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m. 10 at Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m. 14 Irving* 7:15 p.m. 17 Richardson* 7:15 p.m. 21 Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m. 24 at Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m. 28 at Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m. March 3 at Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m. 7 Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m. 10 at Irving* 7:15 p.m. 21 at Rockwall 7 p.m. * — District 7-6A game ^ — at Georgetown
after scoring 13 goals last season.
Also back for the Scots are goalkeepers Kyle Barron and Jack Madsen, along with defenders Reid Valentine, Hafeey Shah, Zayan Shah, and Ryan Beck.
