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Schools

H-F Fencing Club "En Garde" for 10 Years Running

Homewood Flossmoor High School's fencing club celebrated its 10th year by winning a record number of medals in competition.

The Homewood Flossmoor High School fencing club ended its 10th tournament season on a high note, with students bringing home more medals for the team than ever before.

Coach Mark Watman says that the exact number of medals won will be announced before the team's banquet.

Homewood-Flossmoor’s fencers competed in the Great Lakes conference, which all top-level fencing athletes to compete. Most of the powerhouses are in the north suburbs, and many athletes in those schools have been fencing from a young age. Yet Homewood Flossmoor’s athletes always manage to hold their own, Watman said.

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The club began 10 years ago when Homewood-Flossmoor High School hosted a fencing demonstration by an individual who owned a fencing school in the Chicago area. Watman, who has a background in martial arts, was coaching gymnastics at the time,  but when he learned that top high school fencers have been known to win college scholarships, “a lightbulb went off in my head,” and he pushed for a fencing club at Homewood-Flossmoor. 

So far, five former H-F students are fencing at the college level. According to Watman, the sport has helped students’ resumes stand out. 

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“Fencers (have the reputation) of being the most cerebral of all athletes,” he said, "The sport is something college admissions offices like to see.

The school’s very first Fencing Club meeting drew about 50 students. Roughly 40 students joined during the 2010-2011 school year; about 28 are regular fencers.

Joe Seaver, 17, a junior and medal winner in epee, said he enjoys fencing “because it’s individual, you don't have to (depend) on a team.”

“Plus, it’s fun using the (weapons),” he said, smiling.

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