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Fencing club ends year on casual note |
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
by ASHLEY DAVIS
Sports Reporter
Yellow and black socks were the only things that made Appalachian State University’s fencing team physically distinguishable on Sunday afternoon in a mix of white uniforms and masks.
Quinn Recreational Center, the site of the club’s last tournament for the year, reverberated with the sonar-like sounds each time a fencer struck his opponent.
Vest technologies, which initiate the sounds upon being touched by the tip of the sword, make accurate scoring possible, since sideswipes do not count.
The tournament was not sanctioned, and therefore held no rating.
 Nicholas J. Hallman (r) and Bob A. Miller fence during the fencing club’s final tournament of the year Sunday in the Quinn Fitness Center. Photo by Holt Menzies
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Charlotte Fencing Academy was the only opposing team of fencers, creating an intimate scene for the competition.
“I think I’ve fenced just about everyone here except the people on my
own team,” sophomore biology major Nicole L. Diggins said. “I know
Charlotte Fencing Academy is here, and I believe there are also some
third-party individual competitors.”
The tournament was put together last minute by the club’s president and
senior accounting major Nicholas J. Hallman, primarily for the club to
have some competitive fun before leaving for the summer.
While scores and stats were kept, Hallman said the tournament was meant to be very relaxed.
With his performance not quite meeting his standards lately, Hallman
blames the slump on the work that accompanies the weeks before
graduation.
“Hopefully after graduation I’ll be able to re-focus, though and
continue improving,” Hallman said. “You always want to keep improving.
In this sport you can work at it through your forties and fifties.”
Diggins, like Hallman, shares the desire to keep working at the sport.
Only in her second semester fencing however, Diggins is still working to hone the fundamentals.
“I saw it at club expo and have just really liked it,” Diggins said. “I
always want to improve, but especially since I’m newer to the sport.”
Diggins competed in the foil portion of the tournament Sunday.
“This is certainly not the end of fencing for us for the summer,” Hallman said. “Not even the end for me, and I’m graduating.”
Hallman plans to return to Appalachian next semester for graduate studies, and hopes to fence with the team.
Taking his place as president is junior physics major Adrian M. Steffen.
“Next year we all just want to continue getting better,” Hallman said.
“After this some of us will still be going to sectional competitions.
It’s just such an individual sport, we look forward to next semester
but it’s different for fencing than other sports.”
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