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Fencing club president ranks top of N.C. competitors |
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Thursday, 04 October 2007 |
 Fencing Club President Nick B. Hallman Photo by Holt Menzies
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by ASHLEY DAVIS
Sports Reporter
Like many boys, Nicholas Hallman was at one time fascinated with swords and daggers. However, Hallman has managed to turn a childhood fascination into a passion he pursues today.
Hallman, a senior accounting major at Appalachian State University, is the president of the ASU Fencing Club.
Of the three types of fencing formats, Hallman is an epée competitor.
Epée,
developed by French students during the 19th century, was created for
fencers that disliked the lighter foil and wanted to experience fencing
that closer resembled an actual dual.
The majority of ASU’s Fencing Club has become involved as a result of the club’s recruiting.
However, growing up in Charlotte, Hallman was able to enroll in fencing
clubs as a child and spent much time practicing the sport.
One of the people that has seen Hallman grow in the sport is his fencing coach Brian Toomey at the Charlotte Fencing Academy.
“Nick has a lot of potential,” Toomey said. “He’s still fairly young
and I’ve seen fencers go to international tournaments well into their
30s.”
Hallman has quickly climbed the fencing rankings and is now one of four A-rated epée fencers in North Carolina.
At the ASU Fencing Club’s most recent tournament, the Fall Fleche in
Charlotte, Hallman came in first place out of 26 participants in the
mixed Epée.
“One of the things I enjoy the most is the fact that it’s an individual
sport,” Hallman said. “If I can’t come to practice, I don’t have to
worry about letting down my team. Plus, I don’t have to worry about
other people affecting me.”
As a senior, Hallman will soon enter the world outside of college and
he claims that fencing will still remain in the spotlight of his
activities.
“The goal is the Olympics,” Hallman said. “A lot of times I drive down
to Charlotte to practice on the weekends, and if I’m not practicing,
I’m usually at a tournament. I go to two or maybe even three
tournaments a month.”
The experience Hallman gains from the CFA greatly benefits the ASU
club, which will sponsor its first ever A-rated event on Nov. 3 at the
Quinn Recreation Center.
In order for a club to sponsor an A-rated epée event there must be at least two A-rated fencers participating.
Since there are only four A-rated epeeists in the state, holding such an event is quite an achievement.
“The reason we are able to have an A-rated event this year is because
of some of the contacts that I, and some other members, have made
outside of the Appalachian club,” Hallman said.
The ASU Fencing Club is having a successful year so far, not only by
hosting a competitive event in the near future, but also through their
rising membership.
Many of Hallman’s fencing team members recognize the club would not be
where it is today if it wasn’t for Hallman’s dedication to the team and
love for the sport.
“[Hallman] brings a lot more competitiveness and drive which shows in
the whole team,” Vice President of the club Robert Miller said. “He
brings a lot of experience and he’s very devoted.”
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