Bonneville Fencing: Stabbing Friends with Swords Since 1992

Kael Beckstead
Staff Writer
  In early September, the Bonneville Fencing Team launched their season in the lower A-wing, welcoming students to a sport that values mental agility and technique as much as physical fitness. There are three main weapons in fencing: foil, saber, and épée. While saber is popular among the team, team members also practice with foil and explore other fencing variations.
  The students on the fencing team enjoy their practice and fencing games afterwards. These include team games such as capture the flag and team death match as well as technique games like red light green light. They are excited to do sword fighting as a sport every Wednesday and Friday. Advised by Mr. Haroldsen and a non-specific student, the fencing team's structure allows students to rank up based on their skill and grade level. After completing their training period of eight meetings, students may earn ranks by winning the daily champion round or challenging higher-ranked peers to a formal duel. All fencers begin as squires and can progress through the medieval-inspired ranks of knight/lady, baron/baroness, count/countess, and duke/duchess. 
​  Alexis Littlefield, who has been on the fencing team for four years, remarked, “If you have any interest in swords at all, it’s for you.” For many students, fantasy media depicting sword fighting serves as their initial attraction to the sport, giving them a chance to practice techniques similar to what they see on screen or in books. Beyond the three main styles of fencing, students may have the opportunity to experience the freestyle or home brew methods, mimicking their admired fantasy genre. Freestyle includes everything except the three traditional fencing methods, and home brew is any style or weapon of your own creation. However, fencing offers more than just sword play; it demands quick mental agility as well. One student commented on how fencing requires problem solving; upon an opponent’s attack, a skilled fencer will have the ability to think of a strategy, parry, and counter attack all within a few seconds or less. Beyond the necessary problem solving, it was also mentioned that teaching the new squires is an enjoyable experience. According to senior Grace Wiklund, fencing differs from other sports because it allows students, like herself, to succeed based on skill and strategy rather than pure physical ability. As Wiklund said, “There's always those loners out on the outskirts who are like, oh, I'm not physically gifted enough to play a sport, but then there's fencing.” For students interested in experiencing this unique combination of strategy, skill, and fantasy fulfillment, they can join the team by visiting Mr. Haroldsen in room #102 in the lower A-wing after school on Wednesdays and Fridays.