The Columbia boys and girls fencing teams both improved to 10-0 this season with wins over West Morris Mendham- on Thursday night at the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, in Maplewood. The Columbia girls prevailed 16- 11, in what was billed to be a very big contest, with both teams ranked among the top 10 in the state. The Cougar boys won 17-10.

On the girls' side, the Cougar girls won all three rounds and two of the three weapons, including a 7-2 mark in the sabre, behind a 3-0 performance from Faizah Muhammad. In the foil, A-strip fencer, Rachel Viqueira, won all three of her matches to carry the foil team to a 5-4 win.

"This has been our toughest meet so far," said Columbia girls head coach Ibtihaj Muhammad of an extremely formidable Mendham team. "

After being ahead 5-4 after the opening round, the Cougar girls stretched their lead to three points after winning the second round 6-3. Entering the third and final round, Columbia was up 11-7 and extended to a 13-7 lead. One point away from victory, Columbia's c-strip foil dropped her only dual of the evening, leaving the final point up to the foil.

Head coach Ibtihaj Muhammad subbed in sophomore Sarah Hilton for Rebecca Kligerman in the final dual, and Hilton came back from a 3-1 deficit to win her bout and the match for Columbia.

"She's not that knowledgeable in the sport. She still has a lot to learn, but it was just the drive. She does not stop until she hears the official say stop. She went 100 percent," Muhammad said. "We were just so excited and ecstatic. I really didn't expect it."

Other good performances from the Columbia girls included Gemma Roberts and Tory Trama who both finished 2-1 as b and c-strip sabre fencers. Haley Hart also posted a 2-0 mark in the epee for Columbia.

The boys were just in another league than the Mendham fencers on Thursday night. The Cougars jumped to an early 4-1 lead and never looked back, clinching the contest at 14-4, before resting the starters.

The boys earned the victory in just two rounds, winning both the first and second rounds 7-2, 7-2. The Cougars were able to win all three weapons, winning 7-2 in the sabre and 5-4 in both the foil and epee.

Stowe Hammarberg, Andrew Kelly and Connor Thompson each went 2-0 in the sabre before sitting out the final round. In foil, Juan Munoz posted a 2-0 mark and Flacon Resse went 2-1.

While both teams remained perfect through the regular season, the big challenge comes next Sunday Jan. 31, where the locals will be squaring off in the District 3 Championships. The girls appear to be the head and shoulders favorite, while the boys are involved with Montclair in what looks to be a two-horse race.

"The nuts and bolts of the whole season takes place one week from this Sunday," said Columbia boys head coach George Janto. "You'll be able to figure everything out after that."