Worthington Christian Junior Elizabeth Early won the annual Ohio High School State championship in fencing, which started at 9:00 am and took place at Greensview Elementary School on February 7th.In this tournament, fifteen to twenty girls from all around Ohio competed for the right to win the championship.
Elizabeth told me her favorite event was the sabre “because you have to be quick to be in this event.”
Elizabeth said “that fencing is a chess game; you have to try and out-think your opponent and you have to adjust to the speed of the opponent.”
One officiator judges the fencing match. The tournament creates a bracket, and you fence everyone in the pool. The rules involve double elimination, and if you advance, you are the winner.
In order for judges to tell whether you get a point, you are hooked up to an electric strip that shows if you have been hit.
The fencing gear involves a mask, jacket, and knickers; and you have your sabre to complete the whole outfit.
You can get a yellow card if you cover your target from the opponent or if you forget your equipment.
The only way to get a black card is if you get caught cheating- or if you get in trouble by doing something illegal and try to jeopardize someone else’s well being.Elizabeth stated that she has “never seen a black card given,” but that she has “seen a yellow card” given to a person.
Elizabeth was able to beat out many people in a Round Robin format, and was crowned a State Champion; she said “It was an incredible honor” and that she will be competing in this same tournament next year.
Although Elizabeth is now a state champion, she still practices two times a week to make sure she is ready for next year, and to make sure she stays in shape for upcoming tournaments.
