Good Hope School starts fencing program

ST. CROIX - A new sport is gaining interest in the territory, and one St. Croix school has welcomed it with open arms.

With a little help from the USVI Fencing and International Fencing federations, Good Hope School in Frederiksted has introduced the fast and skillful sport of fencing to its athletics program.

"The USVI Fencing Federation was looking for a new home, and our school has accepted the invitation," said Patrick Ramsdell, a Good Hope School social studies teacher who is assisting the program during its introductory phase.

Ramsdell said more than 10 students have starting attending regular fencing practices and exhibitions in the last month at the school's gymnasium. Sometimes, the fencing action shifts to the school's band room because it has air conditioning.

"I'm not a master of fencing by any means, but I'm coordinating the introduction for students as it's more of a recreational thing," Ramsdell said Monday during practice. "We're keeping our eyes out for other people in the area who can help advance the program."

Fencing, one of four sports to have been featured at each of the modern Olympic Games, is a contact sport using bladed weapons such as swords, foils, épées or sabers. The action plays out according to a set of rules, in order to score points against an opponent.

The International Fencing Federation equipped the Good Hope program with masks, gloves, foils, épées, sabers, fencing attire and electrical scoring machines. The IFF also sent Ivan Huapaya, an experienced fencing instructor, to St. Croix for a two-week stay to help get the program started.

"The International Fencing Federation has been extremely supportive with getting this program started," said Ramsdell, a Wisconsin native who had only been a spectator of fencing before Huapaya's visit. "Our instructor speaks broken English, but we've learned a lot so far."

Good Hope will hold a private exhibition this week as students will compete against one another under the instruction of Huapaya, who travels back to South America on Thursday.

At least in the first year, the fencing students will form an intramural club, and will not compete against other teams in the Caribbean, Ramsdell said. The young fencers include students in the 4th through 8th grades.

"The sport of fencing builds character, self-esteem and sportsmanship," USVI Fencing Federation Vice President Mark Hansen said in a press release. "The Caribbean, in particular, is the home of some of the best fencers worldwide. Hopefully, the next champion will be from the V.I."

While it may be a new sport at area high schools, other USVI athletes have emerged in the sport at a national and international level.

St. Thomas native Daryl Homer became a two-time NCAA fencing champion last March when the St. John University student out-touched Avery Zuck of Notre Dame, 15-14. Homer won the men's saber national championship after finishing with a 19-3 record in round-robin competition.

Earlier this month, Homer's younger sister, D'Meca Homer, represented the USVI at the World University Games. She attends Columbia University.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 774-8772 ext. 352 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

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