August 27, 2005

NEWARK, NJ - Shawn D'Anunciacao of Somerville and Nyakiyo Kairu of Maplewood have signed national letters of intent to continue their fencing careers at New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT head coach Janusz Mlynek announced today.

D'Anunciacao, a 5-foot-9 foil, earned two district team championships during his scholastic career at Somerville High. A blade co-captain as a senior, he won team awards for merit and most improved. He also was a goalkeeper for the boys' soccer team and a pitcher/first-baseman in baseball.

D'Anunciacao is a member of the Somerville Fencing Club. The son of Michael and Donna d'Anunciacao of West Summit Street, he intends to major in mechanical engineering. He joins NJIT men's fencing recruits Daniel Au of Bedminster and Andrew Pancoast of Hackettstown in the Highlanders' Class of 2008.

Kairu was a saber fencer for the girls' team at Columbia High which won back-to-back state championships in 2003-04. The daughter of Sheila Kairu of Hilton Avenue, she expects to major in biology.

Fencing is one of the oldest varsity sports at NJIT with roots to the 1930s. The 2003-04 men's team posted a 5-8 won-lost record and set a school record by having six fencers qualify for NCAA regional competition. The women's team, coming off an 11-year hiatus, qualified its first two fencers for NCAA postseason competition.