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Michael Carter Sports Editor As the new sports editor for The Ebbtide, I am determined to find an interesting way to deliver sports articles. I recalled that the SCC Fencing Club has a fencing guru, and decided that challenging him to a duel would be a great idea. Scott Duston, the Fencing Club advisor, would tell me several days after my match that a guy once came into the club who wanted to fence someone, claiming he knew everything about swordplay from watching every episode of the TV series, "Highlander." I was destined to be the next nimrod.
Duston explained that the legal target area in foil starts from the top of the shoulders down to the groin, front and back. In preparation for my upcoming bout, he gave me a brief tutorial which consisted of footwork, several blocks, an attack, and a couple of counter moves. Some of my lesson was also provided by my soon-to-be foe, SCC fencing kingpin Daniel Barron, whose graceful movements I tried to imitate to no avail. Duston had previously informed me that Barron had placed second in a tournament recently, achieving a national ranking in foil. This further enticed my appetite for a duel. I began taunting him with such remarks as "You're gonna' wish you were never born!" My future opponent merely smiled at me as we put our gear on and prepared for the bout. The first one to score on their opponent three times would be the winner. I immediately forgot everything that Duston had tried to teach me and shuffled around like a boxer when he yelled, "En garde!" Barron began to slowly approach, and I retreated clumsily, blocking several of his initial attacks. To his credit, my skilled opponent went extremely easy on me, pulling many of his shots. Eventually, the inevitable happened. Like a lightning bolt his foil thrust into my shoulder as he scored the first point. I tried to remember the footwork instructions and became bold, throwing out several thrusts of my own - which he easily avoided. When my feet tangled up I stumbled and stopped to momentarily collect myself. Zing! Barron's foil was in my ribs in a flash. Down 2-0, I managed to score a legal blow when I lunged forward, hitting him in the groin with the tip of my weapon. "OK Barron, finish him off!" Duston ordered. The other was happy to oblige and advanced quickly toward me. I tried desperately to fend him off but found the point of his foil in my guts. The sports editor had been slain. Although I was hopelessly outclassed, I had a great time getting my bum kicked.
Actually, the answer is from 12:30 to 1:30 every Tuesday. Any SCC student is welcome to participate in the SCC Fencing Club free of charge. The program began last January with the arrival of Duston, a professional fencer who has been participating in the sport since he was 11. Duston has competed in numerous tournaments around the world. He teaches people at any level of skill, from contenders like Barron to first-time nimrods like the sports editor. The club is designed to teach people the basics of the sport within the first few lessons and to enable them to enjoy sparring with one another. Duston has several high-level competitors under his wing, including Barron, who hopes to compete in the nationals, and former SCC student Hannah Sutton, who is competing in Europe while studying for a medical major. Duston's ultimate goal is to form a fencing team at the college. He hopes that interest increases in his class and the club. Anyone interested in fencing is encouraged to attend the weekly Fencing Club meetings in the SCC gym. Participants might just wind up having a cool experience like the sports editor. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™ |
