By Selina Affram
Today at 1 p.m. in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center, the men’s beginning fencing class will fence off in an intramural event to determine the best fencer of both classes.
On Nov. 10, the top competitors from the women’s fencing classes duked it out at the annual intramural fencing competition.
Steven Reyna, fencing coach at this college hosted and monitored the fencing matches.
Reyna has been coaching since 1990.
He said, “To me, it is important to stay in the sport — it’s a lifetime sport and I help to continue teaching to the next generation of fencers.”
The top women from Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes were Dominique Gonzales, Allison Jacob and Miranda Ebersole.
Stephani Williams, Erin Ratka and Amanda Harrison were the competitors from the Tuesday and Thursday class.
The art of fencing requires that competitors show etiquette from the beginning to the end of a bout by saluting each other, the referee, the audience and afterward shaking hands to show respect.
Points are awarded to the fencer who attacks on the offense and hits the opponent.
Right of way is granted to the fencer that is extending his or her arm and is on offense.
The bouts were three minutes long and the victor was determined by who received the most points up to the score of five or the end of the time.
A lack of etiquette can jeopardize a win and cause a competitor to lose points.
The girls fenced with their swords with grace and elegance and upheld proper etiquette.
They were eager and alert as they fenced.
Gonzales and Williams were the top women from each of the classes and very competitive.
Gonzales excelled throughout the event by winning her matches undefeated with aggressiveness and grace.
Karla Esquivel, bilingual education sophomore, 20, said she was eager to see the outcome because she was an intramural winner from last semester and looks forward to the new competition.
She said, “Fencing is strategic like chess, elegant like ballet and aggressive as martial arts.”
The audience was supportive and energetic, cheering on the competitors.
There was an underlying competitiveness between the classes.
Alex Whitson, liberal arts sophomore, 20, held up signs supporting his Tuesday and Thursday classmates.
He said, “Fencing is a fun class that gives you the chance to poke someone with a sword, and that his class would win 5-0.”
The results were Miranda Ebersole in third place, Stephani Williams in second place and Dominique Gonzales in first place.
From beginning to end, Gonzales was a force to be reckoned with.
She conquered the match with the score of 5-2 beating out Williams for the victory.
Reyna teaches fencing to classes separated into Monday, Wednesday, Friday class and Tuesday and Thursday class.
He teaches KINE 1110, Beginning Fencing, and KINE 1111, Intermediate Fencing.
Upcoming events for the fencing program are intramurals at 1 p.m. in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center Wednesday for the men’s intermediate intramurals and Nov. 30 for the women’s intermediate intramurals.