The Observer, December 9, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13
Fencers hold their own against elite competition
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Pirates, Jedi Knights, Musketeers, James Bond, and the Case Fencing team all share a great, but rare talent. Besides cult followings and most likely a Facebook group, all of these fighters can handle some type of sword. Founded in the summer of 2003, this club sport strives to fulfill the hole left when fencing was abandoned as a varsity sport.
There are currently around forty members on the fencing roster, some more consistent than others. Brian Chaloux, a first-year student, is one of those roster members:
"I had started fencing last year, before I came here, and the club team was one of the reasons that I chose Case," he said.
This team practices three times every week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Adelbert Gymnasium. Practice is not mandatory, and the team always welcomes new members, ranging from beginner to advanced skill levels. Equipment is not required for attendance.
The Case Fencing Club competes in all three styles of fencing: the Sabre, Foil, and Epee. At their most recent tournament, at Cleveland State University this past weekend, both the men's and the women's teams fared exceptionally well. The women's foil finished undefeated, while the men's top sabre athletes (Jesse Fish and Scott McMichael) finished a combined 17-1. The CSU Tournament was an NCAA event against schools such as Oberlin, Bowling Green State University, and of course Cleveland State. The fencing club is the only Case sport to consistently compete against Division I Athletic teams.
A previous tournament this semester was held at Xavier University in southern Ohio. There the teams finished fifth and sixth overall.
Due to a lack of funding, the fencing team can only participate in five to seven events a year, and the members must drive themselves to the competition. This is an inconvenience; however, that does not prevent a positive attitude amongst the players.
"It's fun because of my teammates," Chaloux said. "They are good, fun, hardworking. I've definitely become more skilled since I started on the team at the beginning of the year."
Although it had a coach during the club's first year of existence, the practices now fall on the shoulders of the team itself. Practice against each other with critical corrections is their method of hands-on learning, while attempts are being made to attain a coach for next semester.
Spring looks promising for the fencing team, as it is young and still learning. Having small numbers allows for great learning and practice opportunities – even a fencer who just started could compete competitively by coming to the team practices. Chaloux speaks for the other active members when emphasizing the open practices: if a student has any interest in the sport, he or she should give it a try. The skill can be used competitively or just as a bragging right during your next encounter with a pirate or musketeer.
