Student Goes To The Junior Olympics

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Andrew Elam
January 29, 2010
Filed under Feature Page, News, Sports, Top Stories

Charley on right fencing an oppenent

“CHARLEY IS GOING TO THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS!” exclaims Sophomore Megan Hart in a voice that was so fast it could barely be understood.  Sophomore Charley McCarter is going to the Junior Olympics in Memphis Tennessee.  She will be fencing on February 13th and February 15th.

McCarter has been fencing for 4 years.  She wanted to start fencing after she went to a summer camp to try it, and she liked it.  Fencing is one of the four sports in the Olympics every year since the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896.  There were originally 9 sports in the Olympics.

Fencing requires agility, strength, coordination, balance, and timing.  It is also good to have a strong mindset when fencing.  McCarter says, “It (fencing) is a combination of tactical moves with positions and blade work.” McCarter also says, “It’s a wonderful mix of mind and body sport.”

Fencing is similar to sword fighting, but no one gets hurt.  The object of fencing is to score a point by hitting the person with your blade.  For more information about fencing click this link http://www.essortment.com/all/fencingolympics_rbwh.htm.

McCarter is getting support throughout her time preparing for the Junior Olympics.  One of Charley’s friends, Megan Hart, says, “She is amazing (at fencing).  She beats guys twice her size.”  Sophomore Jessica Collins says, “I think it’s an awesome opportunity [for Charley to go to the Junior Olympics] and she’ll do amazing.”

McCarter is training about 5 days a week.  Essortment.com says, “Some ways people train the body is to do squats and lunges.  Sometimes people are taught to block attacks by standing against a wall while the attacker stands a few feet away.  The standard fencing position is having one foot facing the opponent and the side foot facing straight out in a lunging position.”  When fencing there is a limited amount of space for the 2 people to move.

Jessica Collins says, “It’s really cool and exciting to have a friend going to the Junior Olympics. It’s something bigger than the everyday normal that I can somewhat be involved in and support Charley along the way.”