2008 Woodie Awards
Fencing To Host Match
Etan Bendheim
Issue date: 12/6/04 Section: Sports
Buried deep in the basement of Furst Hall is the Yeshiva University Varsity Fencing room. Unless you have taken a bio lab, you probably don't know this room even exists. However, if you ever find yourself lost in the annals of Furst on a Monday or Wednesday night between 8:15 and 10:30, you will hear the sound of clashing swords engaged in what Head Coach Peter Rosas calls "physical chess."
For those new to this age-old sport, here is a quick rundown. Fencing consists of three different weapon classes, foil, epee, and saber, each with its own rules and strategies. A point in foil and epee is awarded for a touch (touché) made with the tip of the weapon. For foil, you only earn a point with a touch on the opponent's torso, and the whole body for epee. Saber is the most idiosyncratic of the weapons, with points scored by touches along the entire length of the blade, anywhere above the waist. A full fencing team will have a three man squad for each weapon, who each compete against the other school's squad in a round-robin format.
When asked what was special about Yeshiva Fencing, Coach Rosas replied, "A fencer can't be dumb. It's not about the fastest or the biggest, but the smartest. And in my experience, students at Yeshiva have been sharp as tacks." Of course, most yeshiva high schools lack a fencing team among their expansive athletics programs, so almost all team members are first time fencers when they get to Yeshiva. In addition, the strenuous double curriculum limits the team to just two 150 minute practices a week.
Regardless, Yeshiva has been, and is, a real competitor in its conference, most recently placing third in the league in 2000. While this year promises to be one of rebuilding, with the saber squad being the only squad with veterans in all three starting positions, Rosas is optimistic about the team's success. Team captain Isaac Wagner, Yeshiva College '05, says morale is up. "We have a very spirited team this year," said Wagner, a third year epee veteran.
For those new to this age-old sport, here is a quick rundown. Fencing consists of three different weapon classes, foil, epee, and saber, each with its own rules and strategies. A point in foil and epee is awarded for a touch (touché) made with the tip of the weapon. For foil, you only earn a point with a touch on the opponent's torso, and the whole body for epee. Saber is the most idiosyncratic of the weapons, with points scored by touches along the entire length of the blade, anywhere above the waist. A full fencing team will have a three man squad for each weapon, who each compete against the other school's squad in a round-robin format.
When asked what was special about Yeshiva Fencing, Coach Rosas replied, "A fencer can't be dumb. It's not about the fastest or the biggest, but the smartest. And in my experience, students at Yeshiva have been sharp as tacks." Of course, most yeshiva high schools lack a fencing team among their expansive athletics programs, so almost all team members are first time fencers when they get to Yeshiva. In addition, the strenuous double curriculum limits the team to just two 150 minute practices a week.
Regardless, Yeshiva has been, and is, a real competitor in its conference, most recently placing third in the league in 2000. While this year promises to be one of rebuilding, with the saber squad being the only squad with veterans in all three starting positions, Rosas is optimistic about the team's success. Team captain Isaac Wagner, Yeshiva College '05, says morale is up. "We have a very spirited team this year," said Wagner, a third year epee veteran.