WESTPORT — Staples High School’s fencing team has been crowned state champions.

The local fencers won the title Sunday over Fairfield Warde, with a hard-fought 5-4 victory. The state championships took place at North Haven High School.

The Staples team’s path to the championship included a 5-1 victory over North Haven in the first round, followed by a 5-2 win over Hopkins School, according to an account provided by Jim Roberts, director of the Fairfield Fencing Academy, which helped coach the team.

In the second round, team captain and junior Gleb Syomichev bested Matthew Brier, the state champion, 5-3, after having lost to him in the individual finals by three points.

And in the championship match against Fairfield Warde, Staples sophomore Max Piterbarg was the team anchor against Warde’s Nathan Luna, prevailing 5-2.

A third member of the Staples championship squad is junior Peter Loranger.

The recently organized Staples team aims to build on that foundation of success during the off-season, aiming to increase team membership from the current eight fencers, as well to encompass all three fencing blades (foil, epee and saber) into their competitive curriculum.