High school fencing
Encyclopedia
Fencing
at the high school
level has varied in popularity. Fencing was once part of many schools' physical education curriculum, and many schools had clubs and would compete in inter-school tournaments. In the second half of the 20th century, fencing gradually faded from physical education curricula in the United States. This has been attributed to worries about teaching children to use weapons or that it teaches violence and requires expensive equipment.
However, youth fencing has remained a club sport at some schools, and the last several years have seen an increase in fencing clubs and tournaments at the high school level. The United States Fencing Association
has encouraged this through the Regional Youth Circuit program. High school fencing season is generally in winter. High school competitive fencing has grown significantly in the state of New Jersey, one of the few states where it remains a varsity sport.
In many European countries fencing is growing more popular each year. In Scotland many new competitions have arisen to get these new fencers into fencing at higher levels, such as the Leon Paul Youth Development series where fencers fit in as much fencing as possible against as many of those in their age and weapon group to gain experience.
High school fencing has also gained a renewed following in the United States, evidenced by the establishment of state leagues, an increase in Junior level national competitors, and in 2011 the establishment of a National High School Championship in Cleveland, Ohio.
Georgia in particular has seen growing interest in high school fencing. The Georgia High School Fencing League was founded in 2004 and currently numbers eleven schools and over 300 fencers. Member schools hold their own practices and come together once a month during the fall and winter seasons to fence other member schools, primarily in épée. Additionally, the On Guard High School League of Georgia was created to allow high school fencers to fence all three weapons (épée, foil and sabre). This league, formed in 2010, currently numbers seven schools and over 80 fencers.
The North Carolina Fencing League has grown to include Chapel Hill High School, Elkin High School, Morehead High School, East Chapel Hill High School, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, Cape Fear Fencing Association of Wilmington, and even a non-North Carolina school, Carlisle Preparatory Academy in Martinsville, Virginia. The latest champion of the league is East Chapel Hill; prior to that, Elkin High School had won the championship for the past 6 years running.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
at the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
level has varied in popularity. Fencing was once part of many schools' physical education curriculum, and many schools had clubs and would compete in inter-school tournaments. In the second half of the 20th century, fencing gradually faded from physical education curricula in the United States. This has been attributed to worries about teaching children to use weapons or that it teaches violence and requires expensive equipment.
However, youth fencing has remained a club sport at some schools, and the last several years have seen an increase in fencing clubs and tournaments at the high school level. The United States Fencing Association
United States Fencing Association
The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States.The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union...
has encouraged this through the Regional Youth Circuit program. High school fencing season is generally in winter. High school competitive fencing has grown significantly in the state of New Jersey, one of the few states where it remains a varsity sport.
In many European countries fencing is growing more popular each year. In Scotland many new competitions have arisen to get these new fencers into fencing at higher levels, such as the Leon Paul Youth Development series where fencers fit in as much fencing as possible against as many of those in their age and weapon group to gain experience.
High school fencing has also gained a renewed following in the United States, evidenced by the establishment of state leagues, an increase in Junior level national competitors, and in 2011 the establishment of a National High School Championship in Cleveland, Ohio.
Georgia in particular has seen growing interest in high school fencing. The Georgia High School Fencing League was founded in 2004 and currently numbers eleven schools and over 300 fencers. Member schools hold their own practices and come together once a month during the fall and winter seasons to fence other member schools, primarily in épée. Additionally, the On Guard High School League of Georgia was created to allow high school fencers to fence all three weapons (épée, foil and sabre). This league, formed in 2010, currently numbers seven schools and over 80 fencers.
The North Carolina Fencing League has grown to include Chapel Hill High School, Elkin High School, Morehead High School, East Chapel Hill High School, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, Cape Fear Fencing Association of Wilmington, and even a non-North Carolina school, Carlisle Preparatory Academy in Martinsville, Virginia. The latest champion of the league is East Chapel Hill; prior to that, Elkin High School had won the championship for the past 6 years running.