Fencing

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A group of fencers in white uniforms and masks pose on a wooden floor with %22NMH%22 emblazoned in front of them, while a coach stands behind them.

Fencing at NMH

Fencing’s history at Northfield Mount Hermon dates to the late 1890s. The school’s first interscholastic contest was a 14-13 victory over the Yale freshmen team in 1938. By the latter part of the 20th century, the surging popularity of other sports led NMH and many other prep schools to drop fencing completely or to offer it as a physical education class only.

A group of nine young men in athletic attire, some holding fencing foils and masks, pose on steps in front of a brick building with large columns. — Fencing team at Mt. Hermon in 1912

In 2018, veteran fencing coach Steven Bathory-Peeler revived the program at NMH by reintroducing a fencing PE class. In response to strong student interest, NMH brought fencing back as an interscholastic sport in the 2024-25 academic year. NMH competes in the Western Massachusetts High School Fencing League and in the Massachusetts State Fencing Championships. The team is open to all genders. Newcomers to the sport take fencing PE in the fall to learn the basics, then can try out for the interscholastic team.

The NMH squad is led by Bathory-Peeler, who, as a high school student in northern New Jersey, fenced under the tutelage of his father, an All-American sabre fencer. After becoming a ranked U18 fencer in the state, Bathory-Peeler took a hiatus from the sport to pursue an education and career in music. A member of USA Fencing, he fences and coaches all three weapons (foil, epee, sabre), specializing in foil.

Recruiting
Interested in learning more about our fencing program? Contact Steve at speeler@nmhschool.org.