Cleveland, OH-Head fencing coach Jennifer Oldham has announced her first recruiting class in charge of the program. Oldham, who took over in the middle of the 2023-24 season, welcomes eight new faces to the men's and women's teams.
"The returners are thrilled to have eight solid new team additions join our program," said Oldham. "I look forward to nurturing their growth, and I am excited to see the team's evolution over the next few months."
Alumni, family, friends and supporters of the program will have the chance to meet the newest members of the Cleveland State program as part of Alumni Weekend scheduled to begin later this week. Current Cleveland State students are invited to meet the team and learn the sport of fencing at a clinic scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 12. The alumni festivities kick off on Saturday, September 14 with registration and check-in scheduled for 11:00 a.m. before the Green and White meet at noon. Following the meet, a gathering is scheduled for the Viking Public House starting at 4:00 p.m.
Below are bios on each of the members of the 2024 recruiting class. The schedule for the 2024-25 season will be released soon.
Cleveland State Fencing 2024 Recruiting Class
Samantha Way
Weapon: sabre
Height: 5'2" Hometown: Clinton, CT
-Competed in the Central Connecticut Fencing Conference earning First-Team All-Conference honors her final two years
-Named All-State in three of her four seasons
-Led team to a conference championship her senior year finishing with a 51-15 overall record, placed in the top eight in the state as a team in all four seasons
-Finished with a combined record of 136-50 in her four-year career
Maggie Mihill
Weapon: épée
Height: 5'7" Hometown: Marietta, GA
-Named All-American and All-Academic as well as a team captain at Lassiter HS
-Placed ninth in the state her senior year
-Registered over 300 career victories
-Competed in the National Championships and the Junior Olympics
-Helped lead team to two fifth place finishes in the state tournament
Jack Miller
Weapon: épée and foil
Height: 6'1" Hometown: Charleston, SC
-Named All-Academic for final two years of high school
-Junior Olympian in 2023 and 2024
Aubrey Testroet
Weapon: sabre
Height: 5'8" Hometown: Homewood, IL
-Received Board of Education Distinguished Scholar Award three years in a row
-Captain of her high school fencing team
-Took fifth place at Division III Nationals in 2023
-Received the Rookie Phenom Award and the Most Improved Player Award
Anna Quinn
Weapon: foil
Height: 5'6" Hometown: Corvallis, OR
-Earned Honor Roll recognition from Ida B. Wells Barnett High School
-Placed Third at Battle in Seattle in 2024
-Placed Eighth at Division III Summer Nationals in 2023
Nolan Giovagnoli
Weapon: épée
Height: 5'9" Hometown: San Francisco, CA
-Attended Boulder HS
-Named to the Honor Roll
-Placed Top 64 out of 453 athletes in the Junior Men's Epee National Championships in 2024
Evelyn Malvestuto
Weapon: foil
Height: 5'7" Hometown: Homewood, IL
-Finished with a 4.0 GPA at Homewood Flossmoor HS
-Ranked eighth in her class out of 650+ students academically
-Competed in the Great Lakes High School Fencing Conference
-Earned the Valkyrie Award given to the best all-around female athlete
-Team finished 13-2 her senior year and placed fourth in conference
Connor Arata
Weapon: foil
Height: 5'9 Hometown: Libertyville, IL
-Competed in the Great Lakes Fencing Conference
-Named a team captain
-Led team to a 9-1 record his senior year
-Placed second in conference and first in the State
