Matt Kelley

Fencing is one of the classiest sports to watch. Each swordsperson has finesse and elegance in every calculated step. The fencing tournament held Saturday, March 14 by the RIT Fencing Club attracted about 40 male and female fencers from the Western New York area. The participants competed all day in the Gordon Field House in the three main styles of fencing: foil, épée and sabre, which all have their own unique sword and corresponding techniques.

RIT hosted a more modern style of fencing that was similar to the competitions held at this past Summer Olympics. Combatants were tethered to a small machine, which looks similar to an industrial scale, and wore electronic pads under their jackets that beep when a sword makes contact with it. These pads ensure an unbiased way of determining legal touches and awarding points. This new age fencing delivers an interesting mix of electronic beeps and metallic clashes as swords collided in bouts, or fights. Fencers battle on a marked narrow ground called the strip, where most of the bout is conducted by one advancing and the other retreating.

There was a diverse group of participants at the tournament; it was common to see high school and college students battling against opponents in their 50s and 60s. In the épée finals, Josh Gertner, a first year Chemistry major, clinched third place after a close bout with Scott Leadley of the Rochester Fencing Center. Under the dark screen of his mask, Gertner was determined as he battled a man twice his age and considerably experienced. He started out with bold lunges against his opponent in the beginning of the bout but had some difficulty defending himself. He maintained his concentration despite the occasional yells from other competitors on different strips. Gertner has been fencing for five years and the RIT Fencing Club was a natural fit for him since he was on his high school’s varsity team. By placing third today,

Gertner accomplished a tremendous improvement in his United States Fencing Association ranking. Despite valiant efforts, RIT did not place in the foil or sabre finals.

There was a small — but dedicated — crowd at each strip watching fencers compete. It was commonplace to see opponents hug each other after intense bouts. Above everything, fencing is a sport based on high quality sportsmanship. There was the occasional shout of frustration or excitement, but overall the fencers supported each other. They frequently engaged in inside jokes with one another and the sharply dressed referees, known as presidents, wore sport coats the entire tournament. Presidents would also offer tips to struggling fencers in between bouts, which demonstrated the sense of camaraderie in the sport. Each fight had a mixture of skill and panache as fencers would fluctuate between long exchanges and quick bursts to gain points.

It was enjoyable to appreciate traditional sportsmanship in an era where getting a touchdown turns into a choreographed dance routine. The skill, determination and overall style of fencing amazed spectators while harkening to a more sophisticated time.