Most little boys seem to spend hours play-fighting with swords, but for 13-year-old Ned Waters, the fun of sword fighting never lost its appeal.
“I always thought it was cool,” he says, “so my mom finally gave in and called about lessons.”
This is how the neighborhood swashbuckler’s fencing career began nearly two years ago. In the time that has passed, he has quickly risen within the sport and now competes at the national level.
“I have great hope that this boy will soon be competing in the 17 & under group,” says Michael Kim, owner and head coach at Lone Star Fencing Center.
The majority of the children Ned faces in competition have been studying the sport for many years, and their skill level is unquestionably greater. But Ned and Kim say what he lacks in refinement is made up in athletic ability.
“Sometimes my skills are not as advanced,” Ned says, “but I win because I eventually tire them out.”
Kim agrees: “I am very impressed with Ned’s physical ability. His incredible speed is his greatest strength in fencing – he’s easily as fast as some of the 20-year-olds we have here.”
Ned’s athleticism is fostered by three other sports he enjoys playing – lacrosse, baseball and football. In fact, he says his choice to keep up with these other three activities may be limiting his progress in fencing.
“Right now, I practice three times a week,” he says. “I should be practicing more, and when football season ends, I’m going to take that extra time to really focus on improving fencing.” (He’ll have to, because spring baseball practices will be right around the corner.)
“Fencing is something I like, and it comes easy to me, but I haven’t reached a point where I want to focus on it as my only sport,” he says.
Still, the competitive lad is thinking ahead to a potential bid for a spot on an upcoming Olympics.
“I think Ned has the potential to make an Olympic team if he continues to work hard,” Kim says.
Fencers competing at Ned’s level are called cadets. Currently, Ned is ranked within the top 32 in the country among the 14 & under age group. The United States Fencing Association determines rank based on a system of cumulative points acquired at national-level competitions. In a state where football is king, Ned is joining a growing number of young people exploring alternative sports such as fencing in Dallas.
“I just put together a fencing team at Jesuit,” says Kim. “While fencing used to be a sport that was chosen by someone who did not have success in other more traditional sports, I have been approached by several football and basketball players at Jesuit who want to know more about fencing. It’s definitely attracting a more mainstream crowd.”
Ned says his friends at school support his efforts, but they like to tease him a bit, too.
“They joke with me about being able to defend them if we get attacked in a dark alley,” he says.
“They want to know if I’ll just whip out my sword and fight off the bad guys.”
