KSU Fencing Owls is a student-run club sport that presents athletes with a fast-paced, intricate challenge.
Fencing practice is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the Owl’s Nest on the Kennesaw campus. The club encourages new members, both experienced and first-time fencers, to attend practice and learn about the sport.
A $60 fee is due biannually to join the team, but all fencing equipment is provided. The team welcomes all students, both male and female, to join. One must sign a waiver and fill out a series of paperwork prior to joining the team.
Tanner Pack leads fencing practices. He says the main goal is to have fun and get more people involved in fencing.
“It’s a great way to let out steam,” Pack said. “A lot of people don’t have healthy outlets, and this is a good one.”
Pack has been fencing for nine years and has competed in the Junior Olympics and national championships on multiple occasions. Pack has also coached at the Atlanta Fencer’s Club.
“Fencing is a thinking sport,” Pack said. “I have to learn how to understand another person within minutes.”
Most of the fencers on the team have been together for a few semesters, as the environment presents a feeling of unity even in spite of being an individually-played sport. As of now, the team has between 10 and 15 members.
“One of the most important things to get out of fencing is control of positioning,” Pack said. “You learn to control the situation and the other person.”
Amy Weghorst, another team leader, has been fencing for three years. She has placed in several women’s fencing events and previously was in the top 10 female fencers competing in Georgia in epee-style — a style that employs a heavier sword, but where points can be scored anywhere on the opponent’s body.
Weghorst said she hopes for members of the team to become competitive, as many previous competitive members have graduated.
Isaac Rose, a senior dance major, is another member of the club and said he enjoys fencing because it is a very sophisticated sport.
“I enjoy the sense of nobility I get while fencing,” Rose said.
Upcoming competitions include the Seventh Annual Yellow Jacket Open, held on Mar. 12 at Georgia Tech.
Competitive fencing divisions are broken down into many categories, including ranking, weapon, gender and age. There are also multiple weapons to choose from.
Members remark that fencing is a relatively safe sport because of the protective gear required. In fact, a study of injuries occurring in Olympic competition ranks fencing as having one of the lowest injury rates.
The club encourages prospective members to check out its Facebook page, KSU Fencing Owls, or email directly at fencingowls@gmail.com for more information.
