When junior Blair Berenson attended a late-night freshman orientation event in Moseley Center on his first day at Elon, the last thing he expected was to talk about fencing.
But when Berenson ran into junior Dylan O’Neill — a familiar face from the fencing league he competed in during high school — that quickly changed.
“We were like, ‘Hey, do you want to start a fencing club?’” Berenson said. “And then the two of us became the president and vice president.”
A year after crossing paths in Moseley, the two established Elon’s club fencing team, which just completed its first full year at the university. With 34 registered members and 57 in the club’s group chat, Berenson said the team’s growth in its debut year was more than expected.
Fencing had been a club sport at Elon in the past, but was dormant before its recent return. The team worked with the Greensboro Fencing Academy to borrow gear and started up practices last fall — sparring at Elon’s South Gym.
Berenson said the club's focus is on developing technical abilities while fostering an energetic, fun environment.
“You’re playing with swords, how could it not be fun?” Berenson said. “We just try to have as much fun while trying to build skills.”
Most members joined without any prior fencing experience. Berenson said he saw rapid development from the newcomers who became leaders within the group by the second half of the year.
“These were people that have never fenced before, as of August,” Berenson said. “Here they are at the end of January or in February, and giving really good advice and helping others grow.”
Berenson said that starting a fencing club presents its own logistical challenges.
Although the club was able to borrow gear from the local academy, Berenson said the club is hoping for members to purchase their own personal equipment as competitions get more serious.
That may include making initial investments in a sword and body cord, which Berenson said cost roughly $100. The club’s president said that a full set of equipment — including a mask, jacket, sword and chest protector — would cost roughly $500.
Moving into the upcoming school year, Berenson said the goal is to increase membership and start competing in tournaments against other North Carolina schools. He listed the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University as some potential schools to match up against.
The president also mentioned collaborating via crossover events with other organizations on campus, like a joint training day with the mixed martial arts club.
As the club prepares for its second year, Berenson hopes even more students will discover the sport the same way he did — by giving it a try.
“It's a great environment, it's great people, great activity. It's really hard not to enjoy it,” Berenson said. “It doesn't take a long time to sort of get used to it, and soon you'll be at the tournaments, and you'll be having a blast.”