Learning and Teaching
One of the clubs major goal is to get people interested and excited about fencing. We welcome all
students, staff and faculty interested in learning the sport of fencing to come to one of our practices.
The club has two volunteer coaches, who offer their time to help teach the sport to new fencers and
veterans alike, and long-time fencers are happy to help anyone interested in learning the basics of the
sport.
As a club, we work as a group for the betterment of individual members. Drills and exercises are designed to increase fencing skills, comraderie and overall fitness of our members.
As a club, we work as a group for the betterment of individual members. Drills and exercises are designed to increase fencing skills, comraderie and overall fitness of our members.
Competition
The Michigan State University Fencing Club is a competing member of the Midwest Fencing Conference,
which consists of sixteen (16) schools with varsity or club programs. Fencing competitions are held
mostly in the spring by conference member schools on weekends. We strive to be as competitive as possible
in the conference, and have gained and seek to maintain our reputation as one of the premier club schools.
In competition, schools have a squad consisting of three individual fencers for each weapon, foil, saber and epee. Events are sperated by gender. Each squad fences an opposing school's squad in nine bouts, so that each fencer faces all three of the opponent's fencers. The team that wins the most bouts is the winner. Some tournaments use a variation of these rules, but the concept remains similar.
All members of the club are eligible to be on the travel squad. Traveling members are chosen based on skill, seniority, and squad captain's discretion. Teams are chosen each year, and a couple travel spots are often available to freshman members that are interested.
Also, all members of the club can compete in United States Fencing Association (USFA) indvidual tournaments. These tournaments are held around the state, and are completely seperate from the collegiate fencing schedule. These events are great ways to continue to learn about fencing, and to meet other fencers outside the club.
In competition, schools have a squad consisting of three individual fencers for each weapon, foil, saber and epee. Events are sperated by gender. Each squad fences an opposing school's squad in nine bouts, so that each fencer faces all three of the opponent's fencers. The team that wins the most bouts is the winner. Some tournaments use a variation of these rules, but the concept remains similar.
All members of the club are eligible to be on the travel squad. Traveling members are chosen based on skill, seniority, and squad captain's discretion. Teams are chosen each year, and a couple travel spots are often available to freshman members that are interested.
Also, all members of the club can compete in United States Fencing Association (USFA) indvidual tournaments. These tournaments are held around the state, and are completely seperate from the collegiate fencing schedule. These events are great ways to continue to learn about fencing, and to meet other fencers outside the club.
History
Michigan State University has a rich fencing tradition dating back around 100 years. Until 1997 MSU featured
fencing as a varsity sport. During that time, MSU was coached by the first American recognized as a master of
fencing, Charles Schmitter, for 45 years, from 1939 to 1984. Upon his retirement, his student, Fred Freiheit,
coached from 1984 until fencing was demoted from varsity status in 1997.
We thank those who were here in that time, because they had the foresight and knowledge to keep fencing at MSU alive by turning it into a club sport. Now, MSU fencing is a club sport officially recognized by the University, and we strive to uphold the tradition of skill, honor and dedication of those who have come before us. We are coached by Chris Oberg, another student of Charles Schmitter, who volunteers his time to continue teaching the sport he loves. As a club, we are the the only competitive team representing MSU in the sport of fencing, and have and hope to continue to do so with great success.
We thank those who were here in that time, because they had the foresight and knowledge to keep fencing at MSU alive by turning it into a club sport. Now, MSU fencing is a club sport officially recognized by the University, and we strive to uphold the tradition of skill, honor and dedication of those who have come before us. We are coached by Chris Oberg, another student of Charles Schmitter, who volunteers his time to continue teaching the sport he loves. As a club, we are the the only competitive team representing MSU in the sport of fencing, and have and hope to continue to do so with great success.