Holzinger, Malatesta See Great Success

LINDSAY HOLZINGER

• Girls Fencing
• Junior

When Holzinger became involved with the high school’s first fencing team, she thought it would be an opportunity to branch out of her comfort zone.

“I like to try new experiences,” she said. “When I started I didn’t know much about fencing. I wanted to try something different, and it was a great way to meet new friends.”

Holzinger was also intrigued by the rare chance to compete on a team’s inaugural season.

Before this year, junior Lindsay Holzinger knew nothing about fencing. By the season’s end, she was an accomplished competitor with several victories under her belt.

“Chatham never had a fencing team before this year,” she said. “It was fun to be a part of a new team.”

Holzinger said that at the beginning of the season, she, “had no idea what [she] was doing.” Despite her inexperience, she steadily improved over the course of the season while gradually collecting victories. Head Coach Chris Palmer was especially impressed by her turn against Mendham in February; Holzinger won all three of her bouts.

“Lindsay [had] only been fencing for three months, and her winning against an accomplished foil squad was a great milestone in her development,” Palmer said.

Holzinger was most proud of her team’s 19-8 win over Butler in early January. As far as her favorite bout of the year, she recalled her flawless 5-0 win.

“I just hit her point after point,” she said.

Holzinger will suit up again for the Cougars next year. By venturing into new territory, she discovered a new love.

“The adreneline you feel when the bout starts and you hit them and the light goes off and it’s your point,” she said. “It’s the best.” 

ANTHONY MALATESTA

• Boys Winter Track
• Junior

Anthony Malatesta knows the importance of patience and hard work. The junior distance runner is a three-season athlete, lettering in Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track. During the indoor season, Malatesta splits his focus between the 1600 and the 3200, but calls the 3200 his primary race.

“He’s a very driven young man; he wants to succeed,” Head Coach Pat Barry said. “He qualified in two events at sectionals, the 1600 and the 3200. He was very displeased with his 1600, and he really came back in the 3200. He’s determined to do well, and of course he won it. That says a lot about Anthony.”

Barry added that he spotted potential for greatness in Malatesta from an early age.

“He’s shown signs of being a star runner even as a freshman,” he said.

Malatesta rounded out his third indoor season with several spectacular showings. He placed first in the 3200 at the NJSIAA Sectional Championships with a stunning 10:04:42.

 “The race at sectionals was my season highlight,” Malatesta said. “That was my first sectional win.”

 Malatesta accomplishments did not stop there. The runner achieved an early-season goal of, “placing in the top six at groups and advancing to the Meet of Champions.” He took fourth in the 3200 at the NJSIAA Group Championships with a personal best of 9:45:00. At his first indoor Meet of Champions, he placed 10th in the 3200 with a time of 10:01:16.

 In an outstanding conclusion to an amazing season, Malatesta qualified for the New Balance Indoor National Meet at the New Balance Armory in New York. He competed in the two mile, coming in 22nd out of 28 with a personal record of 10:04:47.

 “I just work hard,” he said. “And eventually, my work pays off.”