Video Transcript
Hello Chargers and welcome back to the Pin Oak Press. I’m Andrew, and today the top story features Evelyn Watson, who plays an unusual sport that isn’t often seen here at Pin Oak. Even with the wide range of sports offered at our school, she decided to pave her own path and pursue fencing.
Fencing, according to a study by Aspen Institute, makes up only 1.4% of the sports played by children. It’s very rare to see a child pursue it, especially at the regional and national levels. Now let’s head over to Dev Tani for more on Evelyn’s journey through this unique sport.
Evelyn Watson, a 13-year-old seventh grader, trains at Space City Fencing Academy. She currently holds the title of third in the nation and first regionally in fencing, according to USA Fencing, the national organization overseeing competitive fencing in the US. With a win rate of 91% this season, she quickly climbed the rankings. Andrew Marac sat down with Evelyn to discuss her journey through this unique sport.
Andrew Marsack: Hello, my name is Andrew Marsack, and we are here with Evelyn Watson. So, Evelyn, what sport do you play?
Evelyn Watson: I do fencing.
Andrew: Nice! For those who don’t know what fencing is, how would you explain it?
Evelyn: So the typical person thinks that fencing is just like banging and clashing swords together, and it’s not that. The tip of the fencing blade is like a button. So whenever you press it on the torso area, which is your target area, it activates a light, and that’s how you get points. You’re fencing to 15.
Andrew: How long is the usual fencing match?
Evelyn: The usual fencing match is about 15 minutes. It could obviously go longer or shorter. First, we have three-minute intervals. So it’s three minutes of fencing, then a one-minute break, and then another three minutes of fencing and a one-minute break, followed by three more minutes of fencing. If nobody gets to 15 touches, then you go into priority, and the first person to get the touch wins the bout.
Andrew: Nice. Are you ranked in different events?
Evelyn: Yes, in different events. In Youth 14, I’m first. In Division 2, I’m first, and in Cadet, I’m also first.
Andrew: Can you explain to us what Division 2 is?
Evelyn: Division 2 is like a level or rating. You get into Division 2 by having a good rating, and from there, you just move up.
Andrew: I’ve seen some fencing in movies. How does that correspond to real-life fencing?
Evelyn: Movies like The Princess Bride, for example—I wouldn’t even call that fencing. That’s like sword fighting from medieval times. The most accurate movie or show to fencing would probably be Miraculous Ladybug because they actually target and aim for specific areas, which is the whole point of fencing.
Andrew: What’s your biggest inspiration in fencing?
Evelyn: My biggest inspiration is probably Ariana Oro. She’s left-handed, and I am too. When she got really good, she became an entire inspiration to me, and I adore her.
Andrew: How does she inspire you other than being left-handed?
Evelyn: Her ability to move so fast and gracefully without tripping or stumbling is so cool. That takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and footwork to be able to do that.
Andrew: Going back to a previous question, how do you get ranked?
Evelyn: To get ranked in fencing, you just have to win or place in tournaments. That accumulates your points, and those points determine your rating.
Andrew: Do you plan on fencing in college?
Evelyn: I do. From my club, the graduates of 2024 went to Johns Hopkins, Duke, and Notre Dame. I would like to go to UPenn Wharton and fence there.
Andrew: How would you inspire young kids to become fencers, and where do you think they should start?
Evelyn: There are really good clubs in Houston. Space City Fencing Academy is one, and there’s also Alliance. Alliance is an épée club, where you target the whole body, and Space City is a foil club, where you only target the torso. I go to Space City. It’s a great club. To get into fencing, you really just have to show up at a club and start. It’s like any other sport.
Andrew: Nice. Thank you for your time.
Evelyn: Thank you.
That’s all for today’s edition of the Pin Oak Press. A big thank you to Evelyn Watson for sharing her story with us.
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