Anjali Baliga
Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Baliga was the 2009 New Jersey State Champion Fencer in Epee in her senior year of high school.
She began her fencing career as a freshman, and first earned the title of Most Valuable Player as a sophomore. Baliga would go on to compete in the Junior Olympics her sophomore and junior years as well. "I see the Junior Olympics as an experience kind of thing,” she says. “You have the very best fencers there, and it's extremely tough to win." Junior year, Baliga also made the first-ranked New Jersey All-State team.
The summer before she came to Haverford, Baliga went to the United States Fencing Association's National Championships and finished eighth out of 130 competitors. "That was really great because the top eight get to stand on the podium!" she says. In particular, Baliga remembers the nerve wracking bout she won to get to the final eight. "Bouts go to 15 touches and we were both 13 to 13," she says. Then, Baliga got a beautiful shot. “Many people know a lot of fencers will scream when they get touches. I usually don't, but I certainly did there!" she says with a laugh.
Baliga, who is enjoying on the Haverford fencing team, says that what keeps her engaged in the sport is the mental part of the game. "You must outsmart the other person to get touches. You have to solve the puzzle and take action."