Hoosiers finish 7th in Midwest Fencing Conference Championship

While fencing might not be the most recognized sport, the IU Fencing Club continues to fight its way toward prominence in the college fencing circuit.

The club consists of about 60 IU students who dedicate at least six hours per week to practice, without the guidance of a paid head coach. Junior Mary Koser, team treasurer, said the fencers work together to coach one another.

“It demonstrates how hard we’ve worked, how dedicated we are that we’re able to routinely beat teams that have somebody whose job ... is coaching the team,” Koser said.

The competitive component of the club, made up of about 30 members, traveled to the University of Notre Dame to compete in the Midwest Fencing Conference Championship from Feb. 28 to March 1 to fence against other clubs and schools with varsity teams.

Members competed with one of three weapons: epee, sabre and foil.

The overall men’s team earned sixth place while the women placed seventh. As a team, IU fencing placed seventh overall in the competition. In addition, the men’s foil team placed fourth and received the Schiller Award, given to the highest placing club team.

“You pour everything you have out three nights a week,” said Richard Gunyon, senior and club president. “It proves a mental toughness that is really important, I think, for getting along in life.”

While the club faces challenges competing against schools with varsity fencing, members find many benefits to being a part of the team. The dues for the team are among the lowest on campus, and the club also provides the necessary fencing gear to its members.

The majority of the team members had never fenced before coming to IU. A beginner’s class often provides the first fencing experience for students, inspiring many to continue by joining the club.

Gunyon has been interested in fencing since he was young but was finally able to pursue it after coming to IU.

“When I got to college, they offered the class and I took it, and I liked the people. I liked the sport,” Gunyon said. “It really just felt like something I was meant to do.”

While the class is an instrument in gaining attention for fencing, it is not a requirement for those who wish to be on the team.

“The club’s open to anybody,” Gunyon said. “The class is just something we do to get interest in the club.”

The club has also built friendships and bonds among the fencers.

“The general camaraderie of the team ... it’s kind of like an extra family off at college,” said Michael Melsheimer, senior and team vice president.

The club comes together for weekly team dinners, and some members even live together.

“In a school this big,” Gunyon said, “you gravitate toward people with your same interests, and that’s kind of how you keep it small, keep yourself grounded in a school of 40,000.”