On Guard!

Maxon Crumb, left, in mid duel with an opponent.

Maxon Crumb, left, in mid duel with an opponent.

Julia Weinand, Reporter

One might find plenty of students tapping their leg through class to let out energy. In the case of Blanchet junior, Maxon Crumb, he can’t wait to exert himself at fencing.

Maxon Crumb with his father, Patrick, after one of many fencing tournaments.

Crumb started fencing when he was in seventh grade after enrolling in a summer camp and taking an immediate interest in the sport. He competed Sept. 17-18 in Portland, Oregon, and placed fourteenth in his division after being set against the no. 1 seed.

Crumb practices around ten hours a week at the Salle Auriol Fencing Club.

“I really do love the team I have there,” said Crumb. “[We have] built a pretty strong sense of family.”

Although practiced in all three blades of fencing, Crumb only competes in saber. Saber leads to a faster-paced duel and is maneuvered in a sideways slash as opposed to where one hits with the point of the blade in epee and foil.

“It’s exciting, energetic – you just have a good time,” said Crumb.

Crumb will be competing in the October North American Cup in Detroit on Oct. 7-10. He will duel in the men’s saber cadet and men’s saber division 2 events.