Elite fencer Albert Marchant, a 16-year-old Woodland student, competed in a big tournament recently, the Junior Olympics. He has worked hard to the point in his fencing career to get to the Junior Olympics. Here is an in-depth view of this intriguing sport.
Fencing is a sport that involves sword fighting with one of three weapons: the foil, the epee, and the sabre to score a point. To land a hit on your opponent by push the tip of the blade into them. An Olympic sport that came into popularity at the end of the 19th century, and it is practiced by over 200,000 people in the United States alone.
When Albert fenced at the Junior Olympics, he competed against lots of other elite fencers in the epee league and came in 140th place out of 400 people. He triumphed over half the people who competed there which is an amazing feat for a mere high-school student.
Marchant has fencing practice all throughout the week. On Saturdays and Sundays, he is busy with tournaments and competitions.[pullquote]“Homework always comes first,” said Marchant.[/pullquote]
He even thinks that he could get a fencing scholarship.
“I’ve looked at a lot of college fencing teams and I know that there are a few that want me to join their teams,” said Marchant. “When I fence in New York I’m fencing with other college kids there and I fence at that level, so I’m guaranteed a scholarship from that.”
Marchant keeps track of his academics though as he knows that a scholarship won’t carry him the whole way to college.
“Homework always comes first. No matter what I have that day, the homework I got comes first. I’ll probably get a scholarship from fencing but it’s still important to keep my grades up,” he commented.
Marchant’s fencing career has taught him that training and practice make anything possible.
“In fencing, it’s all about practice and training,” Marchant explains. “It’s like taking notes and studying for a geometry class where you have to learn equations or a history class where you have to go over your notes. It takes time and effort.”
Albert has a bright career ahead of him with fencing and he’s paving a road to success with his blade.
