Rafael Bernabe
1. When did you start fencing? Where? And why?
I started fencing in 2018 at Apex Fencing Academy. I got into fencing because of my sister, she fenced in high school when we lived in Connecticut and I wanted to try it out and now here we are.
2. What high school did you attend? Did you participate in any clubs or other sports? Are you on the honor roll?
I attended Apex Friendship High School. I participated in numerous clubs including National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, National Hispanic Honor Society, Academy of Engineering, Key Club, and DECA. During my freshman year I participated in Track & Field and Basketball before joining the competitive team. I graduated with the Summa Cume Laude distinction.
3. What are your plans for after graduation? College plans? Career goals?
I plan to attend North Carolina State University majoring in Civil Engineering with an intent of studying Earthquake Engineering or Construction Engineering, in hopes of constructing/designing infrastructure or structures to mitigate the effects of earthquakes.
4. If you plan to attend college, will you fence there? Does your college have a fencing program?
I will continue to attend open bouting sessions at AFA due to its close proximity to NCSU. My college only has a fencing club and is very epee and sabsre heavy.
5. Do you have any fencing-related advice for our younger fencers? Anything they should know?
Master the basics (the foundation to the house is always built first), stay disciplined, listen to coach, take care of your body (stretch please), try to compete regularly (experience builds a good fencer), be a good sport (don’t get a black card from yelling or throwing your mask), and enjoy the journey. With anything you do, put 100% of the effort and don’t expect quick progress, it takes time.
Hanna Crawford
1. I started fencing in 8th grade at Apex Fencing. I had heard it through the fencing club at my school and thought it was a cool sport to try out.
2. I went to St Thomas More Academy. I was in their theater club and choir club.
3. I’m going to UNC Greensboro to pursue interior architecture.
4. I am planning on joining their fencing club.
5. Even though fencing is always you verses them, each day is different, some better some worse. Progress is not day by day, it’s a gradual climb that has ups and downs. Looking at the bigger picture has helped me to see where I started and help me realize how much I have grown and improved.
Conrad Emenheiser
- I first started fencing at my school’s club in 7th grade which would meet at AFA for practice and Kriszti was our coach. It looked interesting so I wanted to try it out.
- I attended Thales Academy Apex, and I was in National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Chess club.
- I am going to attend NC State university in fall 2023 to pursue at least a bachelor’s in nuclear engineering.
- I plan on joining the fencing club at NC State which is coached by Wesley Chen from here at AFA.
- I think some of the most important things in fencing are working hard in practice, and trying your best with full effort even when the work gets difficult or tiring. Also analyzing where things went wrong about an action you made in your bouts is crucial to adjusting to win and it’s also good to ask coaches if it isn’t clear.
Gloria Plaza-Gasalla
1. When did you start fencing? Where? And why?
I started fencing in Germany when I was 12 in 7th grade which would’ve been 2018. I had to have an after school activity and fencing was the only one with open spots so I didn’t really have a choice.
2. What high school did you attend? Did you participate in any clubs or other sports? Are you on the honor roll?
I went to N. Broughton High School and was president of German Club and French Honors Society. I was in the A/B Honor Roll and Magna Cum Laude.
3. What are your plans for after graduation? College Plans? Career Goals?
After graduation I’ll be attending Elon University where I’ll be in the accelerated program getting a Bachelors in Finance or Economics and a Masters in Business Analytics.
4. If you plan to attend college, will you fence there? Does your college have a fencing program?
They don’t have a fencing program but I’m planning on coming back to apex once in a while for open bouting and maybe starting a club.
5. Do you have any fencing-related advice for our younger fencers? Anything they should know?
Just focus on trusting yourself cause that’s what’s gonna get you the most improvement and remember progress is not linear. Try to find a good balance between school and fencing quickly to make your life easier in the long run.
Mitchell Huth
1. When did you start fencing? Where? And why?
I began fencing at the Kettering Recreational Center in Ohio in 2014. My older brother (Jacob) had tried fencing at a day camp; not long after, I gave it a try. Fast-forward nine years, and I still love this sport.
2. What high school did you attend? Did you participate in any clubs or other sports? Are you on the honor roll?
I have been homeschooled all of my life, and I have been active in various homeschool coops and student ministries at The Shepherd’s Church in Cary. I’ve earned 39 credit hours at Wilson Community College as a dual-enrolled student. When I’m not fencing, I like to play spike ball and pickle ball, read, and play board and video games.
3. What are your plans for after graduation? College plans? Career goals?
After graduation, I will attend THE Ohio State University. My major is currently University Exploration – Management and Industry, which will allow me to explore classes on different subjects to determine my career path. Some of my career goals include graduating college with a bachelor’s degree, working at a job I love, and making the Olympic Team!
4. If you plan to attend college, will you fence there? Does your college have a fencing program?
Yes! I will be a member of Ohio State’s fencing team! Go Bucks!
5. Do you have any fencing-related advice for our younger fencers? Anything they should know?
Don’t give up!!! I know everyone says it, but trust me, as long as you are dedicated and can persevere – even when you have a tough bout – you will begin to succeed. Be focused while you’re at competitions and especially when you’re at practice. My first coach once told me, “You earn your medals in practice, and pick them up at the tournaments!”
Maddie Long
1. I started fencing back at the Middle Creek Rec Center in 2015 at 11 years old. My brother and I were looking for a winter sport to do during soccer’s off-season.
2. I attend Apex High School and am President of the FFA Chapter and am also part of the Academy of Information Technology.
3. After Graduation, I plan on attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and majoring in public health. My goal is to get a career in the disaster management field
4. My college does not have a team but both the school and city have fencing clubs. I plan on continuing to fence at hopefully both.
5. The biggest advice that I can give any fencer is to practice the mental game just as much as the physical. Fencing is about adjusting and adapting to the challenges that your opponent throws at you. In order to be a successful fencer, you have to have a plan, or at least a few ideas of what you want to execute on your opponent. Another major part is learning how to adjust your original plan quickly if it stops working. Focus and confidence are two other traits that are valuable in fencers. You have to practice both the mental and physical traits in order to be successful.
Sean Slough
I started fencing in 2013 at the Middle Creek Community Center . I started fencing because my mom enrolled me in fencing classes. I stayed in fencing because I really liked it.
I am graduating from Grace Christian School.
I am in the National Honor Society, swam varsity swimming for all 4 years and was the captain of the team my senior year, USA Fencing All Academic First Team, USA Fencing All American Second Team, and honor roll all 4 years.
I am going to attend North Carolina State University and study meteorology.
I plan on fencing for the fencing club at NCSU.
You should learn how to care for and fix your equipment as soon as possible. The more you know about your equipment, the easier it will be to take care of to prevent it from failing checks or breaking. Also, it is highly beneficial to know how to fix broken equipment both so you don’t have to needlessly have to buy more and so if something happens to break at a tournament, you will be able to fix it. Along with that, you should always show up to tournaments early by at least 1 hour. I like to be in the venue 1.5 hours before my event starts. When you arrive, you should look around and make sure you know where everything is. Find the bathrooms, check in, equipment check, vendors, and the medical tent (hopefully you don’t need it, but it’s good to know its location). Arriving early allows you plenty of time to get ready for your event and fix failing equipment if needed.
Zhiyan Qian
1. When did you start fencing? Where? And why?
I started fencing around 6th grade at NCFDP with Coach Miller and Coach Joe. I had just quit swimming because I was getting allergic reactions to something in the water and wanted another sport to replace it. Our family friend who also moved from Canada introduced us to fencing because her daughter also fenced.
2. What high school did you attend? Did you participate in any clubs or other sports? Are you on the honor roll?
I went to East Chapel Hill High School. I was on the school’s math team, the president and founder of the Bathroom Squad (painting over graffiti in school bathrooms), and the school’s treasurer for Student Council. I graduated with a Summa Cum Laude.
3. What are your plans for after graduation? College plans? Career goals?
I plan on majoring in statistics and economics at UNC Chapel Hill. I hope to one day work with stocks or forensic accounting. I plan on continuing the start-up my friend and I founded in high school and branch out to flipping items.
4. If you plan to attend college, will you fence there? Does your college have a fencing program?
I will be on UNC Chapel Hill’s fencing team, which I’m really excited for! Can’t wait for all the merch 🙂
5. Do you have any fencing-related advice for our younger fencers? Anything they should know?
Focus on the fundamentals and having good footwork and form. Try to practice a lot and free fence with people who are more advanced than you (don’t be shy asking them to fence! Trust me when I say, we love helping younger fencers). Most importantly, have fun and always enjoy fencing, no matter if you win or lose!