ESSEX COUNTY FREEHOLDERS HONOR
BENJAMIN LEVITT OF LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR BEING NAMED THE 2019 BOYS’ FENCER OF THE YEAR BY NJ.COM

(Newark, NJ) – On Wednesday April 24, 2019, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders held its 16th Annual Essex County Celebrates Youth Event at the Hall of Records. The annual event recognizes the accomplishments of the many gifted young people who reside in Essex County.

This year, the Board honored Benjamin Levitt of Livingston High School, Kai Strothers of Tuscan Elementary School in Maplewood, Jaala Williams of Montclair High School, the Girls Basketball Team of University High School in Newark, and the Boys Basketball Team of East Side High School in Newark.

Benjamin Levitt was presented with the Board’s commendation by Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold. Freeholder Sebold, noting that Ben is from her hometown of Livingston, was especially proud as she read through the highlights of his accomplishments.

Benjamin was the captain of the Livingston High School fencing team where his team, the Lancers, won the District 3 Championship. They also won State Squads in Sabre and the prestigious Cetrulo Invitational. He finished the regular season with losing only 1 of his 72 bouts and was named “Boys’ Fencer of the Year” for 2019 by NJ.com.

Individually, he finished 2nd at the State Individuals and was selected to the NJ 1st saber fencing team by NJ.com and NJISFA. During his high school fencing career Benjamin was selected twice by the US Fencing Association to the All American High School’s 1st fencing team.

Outside of high school fencing, he participated in many international and national competitions where he earned top 16 finishes in the Cadet World Cup in Poland, a silver medal in the 2018 Pan American Cadet Championship, and a top 8 finish in the Junior North American Cup. He also led his club team to the Junior Team gold title at the 2019 Junior Olympics.

Also on hand to congratulate Benjamin were his proud parents Vladimir and Natalia, and his Coach George Janto.