Wyatt Smith ’13 has been fencing for around six to seven years.

“Ever since a young age, hitting people with swords just seemed entertaining,” Smith said.

Fencing may not be the most popular sport, but it fits Smith.

“He’s friendly, dedicated. I think he’s a kid who’s a little more mature,” said Mr. Ron Douglas “He has taken on a lot of responsibility through theater, he’s really done well at it,”

Smith fences in a group of fencers outside Brophy, where he practices in a group and one on one with his coach.

“We do both group classes that focus more on footwork and then we also have one on one time with the coach,” Smith said “I just like to strive to get better and try to be the best fencer I can.”

The group that Smith fences with outside school has been decreasing in number.

“Right now we’re hovering around five or six tops. At its height we used to have 20 or so,” Smith said.

The hardest part of fencing for Smith in a match, he said, is just trying to win.

“In national tournaments I have a confidence issue I would say, but above all, it’s just trying to win I suppose,” Smith said.

To win a fencing match you need to land a certain amount touches on your opponent. Touches in fencing are when you stab someone.

Fencing tournaments are broken up into two parts.

The first half is Round Robin when you fence five to seven people and winners are decided by first to land five touches in a match. The second half is ordered in a bracket and uses direct elimination were a player will fence until he lands 15 touches on an opponent.

Recently Smith has competed in three tournaments since the end of summer this year. Smith took first place in all three tournaments.

“I win a lot of in state (competitions), but when it goes to national tournaments I don’t do as well because there are better people,” Smith said.

Brophy had a fencing club here on campus at one point, but it ended a few years ago.

“Yes I would definitely recommend it, it’s a good sport that exercises both your physical body and your mind,” Smith said.