Post by schlager7 on Mar 31, 2014 10:55:39 GMT -6
Amarillo fencers practice parries ahead of weekend tournament
Amarillo Globe-News
Posted: March 26, 2014 - 11:01pm
By Jim McBride
En garde! It’s Slaughter time. Head Coach Chuck Slaughter has been busy the past few weeks preparing roughly two dozen fencers for Amarillo Competitive Fencing Association’s Springtime Slaughter Epee Tournament this weekend.
On Saturday, the clash of steel on steel rang through Amarillo College’s Fencing Salle in Russell Hall as budding fencers tested their mettle. With an “en garde,” a bout starts, and two fencers square off, their blades at the ready.
During a bout, fencers are tethered to a retractable electronic monitoring cord attached to their blades that scores touches — when one fencer’s blade scores a hit by touching another portion of an opposing fencer’s body. When a touch is scored, a beeper sounds on a colored monitor and the fencers break briefly, then start again.
“Epee is our primary weapon that we use here. The whole body is a target,” Slaughter said as six fencers clashed in the background. “When you have a tournament, you start off in pools, and the pools are all five-point bouts. Then once you get in the direct eliminations, then they are 15-point bouts unless you are over 40. If you are a veteran, as they call fencers over 40, the direct elimination bouts are 10 points. Or if you are 12 or under they are also 10 points.”
In foil fencing, fencers wear a conductive garment called a lamé. Touches are scored when the tip of a fencing foil hits the torso of the opposing fencer.
In saber, another form of fencing, fencers score by striking an opponent above the waist with the point or edge of the blade.
Behind the scenes, Will Willis, the association’s certified armorer, plays a key role in keeping the club’s equipment operational and safe. During tournaments, for example, Willis checks fencers’ masks and other equipment to ensure fencers can compete safely, Slaughter said.
“Will’s job is to take care of the club’s equipment and the club members’ equipment,” Slaughter said. “He basically maintains the weapons that we have.”
Slaughter said a beginner can suit up for about $200, but equipment costs can rise as a fencer’s experience level and competitiveness increase.
The association, Slaughter said, already has a couple of alumni — Derik Nusz and Jared Slaughter — on the Texas Tech University fencing team. Another Amarillo fencer, Luke Castleman, is headed to Tech to fence this fall.
Many of the association’s young fencers aspire to the fencing pinnacle already reached by one of its own.
Juleah Nusz, a fencer with ACFA since she was 11 years old, won a gold medal and national championship in junior women’s epee at the 2009 USA Fencing National Championships in Grapevine. Nusz, whose dad Bary also coaches the team, said she’s nursing a wounded wrist but still competes occasionally in regional tournaments.
“I guess I really just like the competitive aspect of it,” she said as she watched a host of young fencers spar. “It’s a lot of fun to just go one-on-one with one person. There’s no one else to worry about. You’re just fighting one person.”
Grace Castleman, a 17-year-old Amarillo High School student, said she started fencing a few years ago because her brothers were already competing in the sport.
Over the last few years, Castleman has risen through the ranks to become a redshirt senior teaching assistant and now helps younger fencers learn the finer points of the sport.
“I just saw how cool it was and how unique. I wanted to be a part of this, and I joined. I’ve been competitive for about four years now ... I really enjoy teaching little kids,” she said. “It’s not like soccer or tennis.
“This is sword fighting. I love it.”