With frequent coaching shifts over the past few years, the fencing team lacks a strong team culture of traditions. But this winter they’re excited to have the opportunity to build on some of the humor and habits from last year.

“We’re not super heavy on traditions, especially because in the past few years we’ve shifted coaches a bunch, but we’ve had the same coaches for two years now, so there’s the chance for new traditions to be made,” junior Zoe Hermer-Cisek said.

Regardless, the team is tight-knit, and the small size creates a strong sense of solidarity, according to Hermer-Cisek.

Junior Zeke Lam agrees.

“Just being at a tournament is fun. Competing isn’t always fun—sometimes it’s just hard. But if you’re hanging out with people that you like, it makes the experience exponentially better,” Lam said.

Fencers train for epe, foil, or saber competitions, all of which come with their own footwork and style.

Both Hermer-Cisek and Lam agree that the fencing team is a unique mix of students from different groups across the school.

“The stereotype is that it is [just] people who like fantasy books, but there are people of all walks of life who fence; all sorts of demographics. It’s not just one group of people,” Lam said.

[In Print] This story is reprinted from The Rubicon print edition: Nov 21, 2017