From Flicks to Flèches

Name: Henry Woodcock 

Grade:  Senior 

Weapon: Foil 

Hand Dominance: Lefty

Height: Basically 5’8

Hair Color: Blonde

Eye Color: Blue/grey 

Date of Birth: July 11, 2008

Name: James Clare 

Grade: Senior 

Weapon: Épée

Hand Dominance: Lefty

Height: 5’10

Hair Color: Black 

Eye Color: Brown 

Date of Birth: May 14, 2008

When and how did you start fencing? How long have you been on Stuvesant’s fencing  team, the Cobras, and what inspired you to join?

HW: I started fencing in third grade, but I didn’t take it very seriously until freshman year. I started taking it more seriously after not making the team, and then I worked hard to get a rating and made the team through that. I wanted to join because I had been fencing for a while and I knew one of the captains.

JC: I started fencing in seventh grade at Fencers Club in Chelsea, because my dad had done it in college and I had enjoyed Star Wars as a kid. I joined our team because of the high level of competition from other schools and the supportive companionship between teammates.

Which weapon do you fence with, how did you end up with it, and what specific skills/strengths are required?

HW: I started out fencing with foil and just stuck with it. Foil definitely needs the understanding of right of way from saber and the precision from epeé.

JC: I fence with the épée, with which we can hit anywhere on the opponent’s body at any time. My first coach, Kornel Udvarhelyi, recommended it to me because I was a lefty with long, thin limbs. Control of the weapon’s point, a good sense of distance, and physical endurance are important for épée fencing.

What is something that you have overcome or are working to improve as a fencer? 

HW: Making better decisions in the bout and being more conscious of distance.

JC: Something I have had to overcome is a relative lack of physical endurance compared to my

teammates. I was born with a heart condition and I’ve had pneumonia twice, so I’ve made it a

point to emphasize endurance in my training, and now I lead the team on our long runs.

What are your plans and goals for this season? What do you anticipate your competitions and team dynamic will be like?

HW: Hopefully, we can win all of our games. This year, our main challenge will be when we face Millenium. Everyone on the team seems to be getting along pretty well, so I’m hoping it stays that way.

JC: My plans for the season are to streamline our practices to get more useful conditioning and

bouting time for all teammates. Of course, our goals are to win all our games and medal at

playoffs, but we’re especially excited about fencing John Jay campus’ foil and Brooklyn Tech’s

épée teams. They’ll be fun challenges from fencers many of us already know from our private

clubs. I’m hoping our team will be more confident and less anxious than we’ve been during past

seasons.

Has your role as captain changed your outlook on fencing?

HW: Sort of, but even before I was captain I would coach my teammates and help everyone improve. Being captain just makes it more official, I guess.

JC: My role as captain has taught me to balance interpersonal dynamics with cohesive progress

toward our team’s goals. Whether it be giving personalized private lessons, mediating conflicts,

or giving academic and personal advice, I’ve learned that we don’t have to compromise

between our health, relationships, and goals.

What is your favorite Cobras memory?

HW: Probably getting ramen with the team after the season finished.

JC: My favorite memory with the Cobras might be last fall, when our épée squad finished first at

playoffs, upsetting Brooklyn Tech with our strategy and supportive attitudes. Anne Cebula, a

Team USA Paris 2024 épéeist, was there to see. She even signed my glove!

In your opinion, what are the best and worst parts about fencing?

HW: I love the fencing community, both at this school—in my club—and in general in competitions. The worst part is probably how frustrating it can be to be stuck.

JC: My favorite part of fencing is armory: the practice of buying, selling, building, and fixing weapons for teammates. The knowledge, skills, and tools required can be extremely niche, so I’m largely self-taught, though I’m currently training several others to take after me when I graduate. There’s nothing like the joy of handing someone back a weapon they thought they’d never be able to use again.

My least favorite part of fencing is that not enough people do it; the barriers to entry are high

and there are relatively few opportunities to join, especially in poorer, more rural areas. That’s

why I support groups like the Peter Westbrook Foundation, named after a five-time Olympian and the first Black American fencer to win an Olympic medal.

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

JC: Before games and tournaments, I like to drink a bottle of the apple juice I preferred as a kid.

Aside from providing quick, easily digestible energy, it also puts me in a good mood and reminds

me not to take myself too seriously. Of course my goals are to improve and win, but it’s easy to

forget that ultimately, I fence because I love it, and no amount of stress can take that away from

me.

What are some lessons fencing has taught you?

HW: Fencing has taught me to look at things in a more sequential way. I kind of view it like rock paper scissors, but with swords.

JC: Fencing has taught me about balancing between relying on myself and working with others. It’s just you and the opponent on the strip, but the people in your support system can make or break your success and overall experience. I’ve also gotten the privilege of giving that support to

others, and that’s the most rewarding aspect of our training together.

HW Fun Questions:

Funniest Teammate: Daniel. 

Favorite Fencing Team/Player: I love everyone (somewhat) equally.

Favorite Touch: Any flick. 

Favorite Fencing Shoe: Asics Volleyball Shoes. 

Favorite Sports Drink: Liquid IV. 

Favorite Post-Game Meal/Snack:  That one time I got hotpot in Flushing with Cuinn and our moms.

Playing on Full or Light Stomach: Light. 

Hobbies: Languages, videogames, and music. 

If You Could Rename Your Team: The Freaksters. 

Fencing Pet Peeve: People who flick. 

If You Could Play Any Other Sport: Tennis. 

Fun Fact: I guess I already said this, but I didn’t make the team the first year I tried out. 

JC Fun Questions:

Funniest Teammate: Jesse Zhu, my most senior armory apprentice. 

Favorite Fencing Team (PSAL): Fall 2024 Francis Lewis: a super diverse, dynamic team full of nice people with cool fencing styles.

Favorite Fencing Team (World): Team USA women’s foil: Paris 2024 team champions and gold and silver individual medalists (shoutout to Lauren Scruggs from Fencers Club!). 

Favorite Touch: A nonchalant poke under the opponent’s wrist. When done right, they shouldn’t even know what hit them. 

Favorite Fencing Shoe: Crocs in sport mode—perfect for parry 11 (IYKYK). Serious answer: Asics Gel-Rockets: great for running, jumping, footwork, and everything else we need during practice. 

Favorite Sports Drink: Coconut water with honey and powdered electrolytes for optimal rehydration and energy.

Favorite Post-Game Meal/Snack:  Anything shared with the team.

Playing on Full or Light Stomach: With the amount of footwork I do, I prefer less solids and more liquids in my system. Hydration is key! 

Hobbies: Armory, reading, long walks through the city, robotics, and inventing/tinkering.

If You Could Rename Your Team: Stuyvesant Cacti. 

Fencing Pet Peeve: Broken reels—always a pain to diagnose and fix. 

If You Could Play Any Other Sport: Archery, because it reminds me of a well-executed flèche.

Motto to Live By: “Two Ears, One Mouth.” I’ve written several essays for school with this theme.

Fun Fact: The weapon in fencing is the second fastest object in sports after the bullet!