The University of Wyoming Fencing Club, described by Club President Cole Sorenson, is a judgment-free community that welcomes all levels of experience and provides the enjoyable opportunity to compete, travel, and train to act under pressure. The club, coached by Ben Froidevaux, Grant Campbell, and Jesse Wallak, is home to over 30 registered members. To ensure that members can compete at their highest potential, the club meets to practice in the evening on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, resulting in almost 9 hours worth of training per week. President Sorenson stressed the importance of their high-level training and described the sport of fencing as containing many different coachable aspects including strategy, mentality, and athleticism.
The combination of these traits allows for an individual to capitalize while competing in a variety of ways. One example of this is if an individual is not as athletic as an opponent, they must compensate through a strong and executed strategy to win a bout. Competitors must also have a high level of trust in their training and confidence to strike an opponent while in a fast-paced encounter.
“A lot of your skill in fencing is being able to do these somewhat complex maneuvers on instinct and do them properly and with enough commitment for it to be effective,” Sorenson said.
Sorenson appreciates the sport in various aspects. One of these is that fencing provides an equal opportunity for individuals to win and succeed in each bout. “It’s a sport that because of the limitations, you’re really able to express creativity and strategy, or you can try pure athleticism,” he said. “There’s so many avenues to be successful as a fencer that I think, in that sense, it’s almost like a life lesson. There is not one right way forward, but you just have to be clever about how you handle your situation.”
The UW fencing team prides itself on the ability to coach those with any amount of experience. The team also finances itself in a way that allows members to loan gear without the financial obligation of providing it for themselves. They also provide a trial period for students to learn the art without having to commit to club dues and fees before participating.
