“I’m known for hitting a bit hard,” junior Johann Johnson said with the utmost seriousness. Johnson is not a middle linebacker for the Scituate High School football team, or a fullback on the rugby pitch. Johnson is a new kind of athletic superstar coming soon to SHS. He and his friends Ashley Brown, Skye Fenton, and Connor Hodges plan to bring all the action from the fencing strip to SHS by creating the school’s first ever fencing club.

Fencing has mesmerized Johnson in a multitude of ways since he first picked up a foil at 13 years old. “I like the strategic aspect of [fencing] . . . one must have a plan, but also respond to and adapt to the plans of your opponent at a high speed, mixing instinct with careful planning,” he said.

Like Johnson so eloquently states, the sport of fencing is a very complex art. First off, there are three different types of fencing: foil, épée, and sabre. Each type is named for the different blades that are used. In order to score a point, you must land a hit on your opponent’s target area, which again varies depending on what type of fencing it is. If both fencers land a hit on each other at the same time in foil and sabre fencing, the point is awarded to the one with “right of way.”

In order to simulate a real duel, where any sane human would be running for the hills with a sharp blade coming at them, you must evade or deflect the blow before delivering a counter attack. Whoever attacks first has the “right of way.”  In épée, however, “right of way” does not apply, and both players receive a point if they deliver simultaneous blows. Although there are three types of fencing, Johnson stated that foil is the most common, and the club will likely be structured around that specific style.

Johnson has been working tirelessly to draft the proposal and organize all the paperwork necessary to create a new club. Though Mr. Mingels has volunteered to supervise the club, he has made it clear that the club’s foundation and ultimate success will be due to the efforts of Johnson and those who have worked closely with him. “I helped out with the proposal,” Mr. Mingels said, “but the rest was really all him [Johann], and I want him to be the one to push it over the goal line.”

Being the humble man that he is, Johnson was quick to thank everyone who assisted him in his efforts. Along with Mr. Mingles, Johnson made it clear that this club would not be possible without the help of Mrs. Hoffman and Ms. Michelle, athletic director Mr. Cash, and most importantly, his friends.

Johnson hopes that the establishment of a fencing club will allow both experienced and inexperienced fencers to brush up on their skills, as well as gain new ones. He would like to help new fencers gradually learn to understand the art. Johnson also expressed his belief that fencing could one day develop into a varsity sport. “I can absolutely see fencing becoming a varsity sport,” Johnson said. “The main problem at the moment is that few other schools have fencing programs, but hopefully the establishment of a club will help encourage that growth.”

Though the proposal has not been accepted as of yet, Johnson expects to get the ball rolling in the weeks following February break. He encourages any aspiring fencers to contact him or Mr. Mingels for further details. Don’t let your fencing dreams be foiled!