COURTESY OF JOHN REA
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“GIVEN A CITY of its size, it
and I do things a bit differently, so students
have the opportunity to see what works best
for them. I think we see our relationship as one
of friendly competitors. When our fencers come
up against each other in local events, of course
our people root for our people. When we are at
national events it is unlikely that we will have
to compete against each other, so we root for
and assist the other Wilmington fencers.”
Rea has been teaching fencing for 20 years.
His experience is obvious as he works with
youth during a Wednesday evening class.
These are young fencers — energetic, jovial
and excited for their chance at a sword fight.
“After you get a jacket and a body cord, then
you’ll put the lamé on,” he says, his voice rising
slightly louder than the bursts of conversation
around him. The students pull on their face
masks, white jackets, and shimmering silver
lamés.
The smallest boy in the class, maybe around
age 7, puts on his face mask and holds his
blade in the air. “I’m special!” he declares in a
high-pitched voice.
“I have the capacity to kill now!” another says.
It’s all in play mode, coming from minds still
filled with the idyllic wonder of youth. Fencing
is comparable to playing in the woods with
an old friend, imagining the shady oak as a
commanding tower, and the creek a trail to
the ocean. It’s bringing the element of knights,
dragons, kings and queens into reality.
Clockwise from top: Greg Spahr instructs a
Cape Fear Fencing Association day clinic in
the lower level of Tileston Gym at St. Mary
Catholic School. Jessie Harvey, right, of Cape
Fear Fencing Association competes locally in
the open foil division. John Rea (front, right)
with a silver medal at the Canadian/American
Championship in 2015. Rea competes in the
saber finals at that event.
22
is quite remarkable that
Wilmington has two
flourishing fencing clubs,”
he says. “John Rea
WBM february 2018
COURTESY OF JOHN REA