In the world of sports here at Morgan, fencing often finds itself pushed to the sidelines, overshadowed by more mainstream sports. On top of this, there are stereotypes of fencers. Those not familiar with fencing claim it is “not a sport” and that fencing is “easy ¨. This, however, is inaccurate as the practice routines and the physical requirements of Morgan Fencers proves
The stereotypes prove many people don’t understand the concept of fencing. Fencing, created in the 18th century, is a very difficult sport that requires lots of stamina. It also requires a good deal of mental agility, power, balance, dexterity, and motor skills.
The Morgan Fencing Team is more than just a tea
m, but rather a community of people coming together for one big goal. The coaches task the athletes with work to prepare them for life outside of fencing. The team was created to be a welcoming environment, and they achieved just that. Whether fencers have no experience or some, they all join the team for the same opportunities.
The Morgan Fencing team requires intense conditioning drills to build a talented team and to stay in shape, so fencers can perform on long tournament days.
For fencing tournaments, days consist of early mornings, late nights, and long days. The team fences for hours, with long 9-minute bouts, and matches against another opponent. An athlete has to move fast and create the stamina to get through these matches.
In addition, Morgan Fencing performs well every year. Multiple individuals and weapons win large tournaments and state tournaments. Their head coach Jim Barnett, and alumni of Penn State Fencing, Alex Rauccio, and Olivia Morrissey all contribute to the team, leading them to achievements and victories.
Morgan Fencing defies the stereotypes. This team is one of the largest at Morgan, and for good reason. The athleticism it takes to be a successful fencer is just like any other sport and requires the same amount of energy. From the physical tasks to the coaches’ effort in creating more than a team, Morgan Fencing remains successful and deserves the title of a sport and the respect of the school.
