Spring Break
Fencing club takes Aggieland by storm
By: Esther Sutton
Issue date: 7/24/07 Section: News
During the school year, the club practices for three hours every weekday, and Brunson said the practices are open to anyone who is interested in the sport. If a visitor wants to participate, all of the equipment is provided for their use if they sign a release form.
Club membership is $100, - half is used to put the players in the United States Fencing Association (USFA).
"That way you can already have a one-up on everybody else," Brunson said. "You can fence in other tournaments and better yourself if you want to pursue higher rankings. It's a team event, but at the same time you're individually fighting for yourself."
Patrick Moore was the Fencing Club president for three years and has been fencing for nine years. He said he originally started fencing because he was home schooled and wanted to become involved in a group of people - and for a girl.
"I was home schooled, and I didn't have any friends. And I've got a thing for redheads," said the senior computer engineering major.
Moore has competed in several tournaments at A&M and in several other states, including Michigan, Indiana and South Carolina. He placed second in one of the tournaments.
"My team got third place. I missed first place by one point," Moore said. "I think about it every day."
He said there are occasional scrapes and bruises, but he has never been seriously injured, and he thinks fencing is great because there are not any age requirements.
"You could go to a tournament and they could match a 15-year-old with a 70-year-old," Moore said. "And you learn a lot about yourself and who you are."
Club treasurer Sal Bertucci, who has been fencing since he was eight years old, agrees. He said he likes it because it is a competitive sport, but internal, sport. He said it doesn't matter how much physical training one does, because it is a mental game about technique and endurance as well.
"I truly do it just because it's fun, and it's about mind games and tricking the person out and thinking ahead," Bertucci said. "It really works your brain out as well as your body."
Club membership is $100, - half is used to put the players in the United States Fencing Association (USFA).
"That way you can already have a one-up on everybody else," Brunson said. "You can fence in other tournaments and better yourself if you want to pursue higher rankings. It's a team event, but at the same time you're individually fighting for yourself."
Patrick Moore was the Fencing Club president for three years and has been fencing for nine years. He said he originally started fencing because he was home schooled and wanted to become involved in a group of people - and for a girl.
"I was home schooled, and I didn't have any friends. And I've got a thing for redheads," said the senior computer engineering major.
Moore has competed in several tournaments at A&M and in several other states, including Michigan, Indiana and South Carolina. He placed second in one of the tournaments.
"My team got third place. I missed first place by one point," Moore said. "I think about it every day."
He said there are occasional scrapes and bruises, but he has never been seriously injured, and he thinks fencing is great because there are not any age requirements.
"You could go to a tournament and they could match a 15-year-old with a 70-year-old," Moore said. "And you learn a lot about yourself and who you are."
Club treasurer Sal Bertucci, who has been fencing since he was eight years old, agrees. He said he likes it because it is a competitive sport, but internal, sport. He said it doesn't matter how much physical training one does, because it is a mental game about technique and endurance as well.
"I truly do it just because it's fun, and it's about mind games and tricking the person out and thinking ahead," Bertucci said. "It really works your brain out as well as your body."
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