Spring Break
Fencing club takes Aggieland by storm
By: Esther Sutton
Issue date: 7/24/07 Section: Aggielife
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As the battle comes to a close, the winner heroically salutes the referee, while the other's eyes tear up. She complains to her coach asking: "Why can't I beat her?" The winner was Kendra Brunson, the president of the Texas A&M Fencing Club, and she had defeated a University of Texas Longhorn - the old fashioned way.
"It was ridiculous," said Brunson, a senior English major.
Battles like this happen at each of the six or more tournaments that the fencing club competes in each year. The club has 25 members, and Brunson said they are loyal and work hard to bring the sport to A&M and other places around the country.
"We went to Indiana this last semester for nationals, and Patrick Moore, the old president, got second place on an 'epee', which is really good. Our women's sabre team got ninth place out of 25," Brunson said.
The team travels a lot, but they hope to bring the art of fencing to A&M in September.
"We have an upcoming SWIFA, where a bunch of schools in our division come and fence, and it's going to be in College Station," Brunson said. "Anyone is welcome to come and watch."
The club holds a "Heavy Metal" fencing match each November, and it is the dominant tournament for the club. Brunson said the turnout for this event is usually good because the Southwest division will set dates so that no other fencing clubs will hold tournaments on the same day. This ensures maximum attendance at the matches.
The Fencing Club does not practice in the summer, but there are public clubs available to all fans of the sport, Brunson said. She goes to Houston once a week to practice at a fencing club during the summer.
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