Lobascio, who has been fencing for nearly five years, earned fifth place at last year’s All-City tournament and competed in the All-State tournament as well. The team relies on his competence.

“Lobascio is just physiologically fit for fencing,” junior Tiffany Pang said.

Zhao, a member of the private Halberstadt Fencer’s Club, which has many members from Lowell and other San Francisco high schools, is very dedicated, according to Lobascio. She even leads the team in exercises during practices.

Louie, a member of the team since his sophomore year, is both a valuable veteran and a committed leader who trains most of the new fencers. Louie founded the Fencing Club last year to attract more people into the team, concerned with the team’s future as he was. Most of the team’s freshmen are from Louie’s Fencing Club, reflecting its success.

Several relatively new fencers have also shown potential. “Most are catching on well, though they could do with some more refinement,” Louie said. Indeed, sophomore Natalie Ho, whom Pang and Lobascio describe as very hard-working, and senior Jonah Martin, who has years of background in epée fencing — a similar sport but using a shorter and stiffer blade — may very well be this year’s star rookies.

Ho said she is worried about facing University High School, one of Lowell’s archrivals, because her private coach at Halberstadt, also a former United States Olympics coach, is University’s coach. However, the rivalry doesn’t stop her from enjoying the sport. “It’s all about having fun,” she said.

Junior Joanne Kong is also worried about tough rivals. “I’m scared of Lincoln,” she said. ”They are really experienced.”

Ho and Kong’s peers, on the other hand, are more confident. “I’m not worried about anything,” Louie said. Pang agreed. “We’ll beat them,” she said.

However, head coach Scott Cunningham remains slightly apprehensive about facing archrivals University and Washington, though they also have lost key fencers to graduation. The girls’ lack of confidence at last year’s All-City led to a 6-3 victory for the Eagles. “Washington was trouble for the girls last year,” he said. But the team had other successes last year, winning the overall team title at the All-City tournament and second place at the state competition.

Lowell’s first match of the season will be on Feb. 27 against Balboa at Lowell. And with the month’s hard work, the team is prepared.

“Scott does a lot of one-on-one training that really helps,” Kong said. “So give me two days of practice and I’m ready.”