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05/04/2022 12:00 AMKyra Savage reached the pinnacle of her career in her final season with the Morgan girls’ fencing team. A senior captain, Kyra finished out her tenure with the Huskies in spectacular fashion by taking first place in the saber competition at the Individual State Championship this year.
After being unable to win a direct elimination match at Individual States in the three years prior to this season, Kyra was motivated to at least get through the first round as a senior. Kyra accomplished that goal and much more by finishing first at the state meet.
“My goal for the day was to get through the first round of direct elimination bouts and see what would happen from there. Fortunately, I was able to win all of them to become the saber state champion,” says Kyra. “Being the first Morgan fencing team member to win a state championship is pretty special. That day turned out to be really incredible for the team.”
Head Coach Jim Barnett was beyond proud of Kyra for claiming top honors in saber at states. Barnett describes Kyra as a true leader..
“As a captain, Kyra was a great leader in the way she trained at practice and in her will to win on the strip. Not only did she lead with her voice, but she led by example,” Barnett says. “After the pool round at the State Championships, she entered the direct eliminations. As she fenced each bout, you could see her intensity and desire to win get stronger and stronger. No one was going to beat her that day.”
Kyra attributes much of her success in fencing to Coach Barnett, who founded the program at Morgan 10 years ago. Kyra says that Barnett knows how to help the Huskies realize their potential both on and off the strip.
“Coach Barnett has always been there, pushing me to be better and challenging me to expand my capabilities. While all that is important, coach pushes us to prepare for our future,” says Kyra. “He requires every team member to write a résumé and submit it to him at the start of the season and, in return, he will write us letters of recommendations.
“We engage in the community as a team by supporting Clinton families with donating to the local food pantry or non-profit Bare Necessities,” she continues. “He works with us not just in fencing, but also as who we are as individuals.”
Aside from fencing, Kyra also led the Morgan field hockey team as a captain last fall and is currently holding a captain’s role for the girls’ tennis squad.
Staying active is a big key to Kyra’s success in all of her sports, and she appreciates how her fellow fencers have helped her make great progress.
“What I do to improve is to constantly practice and work alongside my coaches and teammates. Getting lessons from my coaches and hearing their advice and constantly fencing my teammates helps me to improve,” Kyra says. “I learned this year that even though saber may be the fastest weapon, it requires patience and focus, as well. While on the strip, listening to the advice from my coaches and teammates helped me grow into the fencer I am today.”
Kyra describes her 2022 campaign with the fencing team as the most normal season in her four years at Morgan. Kyra says that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the trajectory of her high school career, but that she feels grateful to have seen sports return to a semblance of normalcy.
“Last year, due to restrictions, we were unable to have our state tournaments, along with any other of our big tournaments, which was really new for the rest of my teammates and I, because that is a big part of our season,” Kyra says. “However, our team was still able to compete in the conference championships, where two of our squads placed first, and I was honored to be a First Team selection.”
Kyra is also the president of the School Spirit Squad and the editor of the yearbook at Morgan. Kyra also works as the head sailing instructor at a camp in Cape Cod during the summer.
Kyra plans on attending Bucknell University to major in psychology and minor in film studies. As she reflects upon her last year of high school fencing, Kyra knows that her senior season is one she will never forget.
“This season was the best I could have asked for. My teammates were amazing, and my coaches were extremely supportive,” says Kyra. “I am so sad that the season has ended. I am so thankful for all the friends I have made in the fencing community.”