Many students at Amador may feel as if they do not have a community to share their passions or hobbies with. However, the new Amador Fencing Club, held biweekly in Mr. Milton’s room, L-3, strives to create that community for students while also increasing the diversity of clubs on campus.
“The reason that I wanted to bring [the club] to Amador is because a lot of people don’t know a lot about fencing; it hasn’t been brought to enough awareness. A school club can create a community where kids can learn about [fencing], and maybe find an interest in it,” said club president Ashwika “Ash” Mattupalli (‘28).
Passion for Fencing
For the officers, fencing wasn’t only an idea for a new club. They have a long-standing passion for the sport and value its ability to give them a break from school.
“I think that one of the best things about playing this sport is that it’s the one time in my life where I don’t need to worry about school stuff. It’s a great release of stress, and honestly, I feel like playing the sport makes me a lot happier, and I’ve also made a lot more friends,” said club secretary Chelsea Li (‘28).
The sport brings out values in people that might usually stay hidden away. Officers appreciate that they won’t only spotlight these values while sparring– they will stay with them beyond fencing..
“Fencing is like a sport that has so much more meaning than just being a sport for me because it’s a sport that highlights integrity, sportsmanship, and a lot of critical thinking. It’s a sport that includes a lot of the things that end up being useful for life,” said Mattupalli.
Club Goals
Although some students may feel there isn’t a club for their hobbies, they might also not even realize they have an interest in a club because the club topic is too overlooked or underappreciated. Realizing this, the fencing club officers made it their goal to increase the outreach of the club and the popularity of fencing.
“Fencing is a really niche sport. Ash, me, and a few other kids here at Amador wanted to make the sport more accessible and introduce it to a wider community of people. We wanted to maybe eventually bring it to more schools to create an even larger, stronger community,” said Li.
In addition to making fencing more well-known, officers also have a vision for the club members learning the basics. They believe that teaching students how to fence isn’t only instructing lunges and parries – it’s also sparking the spirit needed to fence.
“The environment of fencing is competitive and determined. We prioritize competitiveness. That’s what helps you win: that fire and determination to reach your goal…once you learn how to play the sport, you’re going to want to feel the same way,” said Mattupalli.
Increasing Diversity of Clubs On-Campus
Creating the fencing club helped to expand a previously niche community on campus, especially because of the inclusivity towards people with no experience in the sport. Many beginners are grateful for the supportive officers encouraging their growth in the sport throughout the year.
“[Joining] has been great because it’s nice to have people you know supporting you through anything, whether it’s hobbies or athletics,” said club member Nichole Wang (‘28).
