Athlete of the Week | Captain Schieffer leads inexperienced sabre squad

It wasn't until college that Brooke Schieffer '12, co-captain of the Vassar women's fencing team, was introduced to the sport of fencing. Having grown up and attended high school in Sioux Fall, S.D. Schieffer jokes, "The only fencing we have is barbed wired."

Schieffer's first encounter with fencing was in Fencing Fundamentals class during her freshman year. Assistant Coach Eric Soyka taught the class and encouraged Schieffer to join the team, she recalled.

"The fencing team really encourages walk-ons," said Schieffer, "and when I did, they had me start on sabre, which is funny because I didn't like it at first." Now Schieffer admits she can't imagine being anything other than a sabreur.

Now the women's co-captain, alongside foil squad leader Alia Heintz '12, Schieffer said that her main goal this season is to be a good coach to her teammates.

"We take videos of matches," shared Schieffer, a smile crossing her face, "and in every match that I'm not in, you can hear me yelling and cheering on my teammate."

Schieffer continued, "It's especially important as a first year to have someone there to guide you. I was lucky enough to have that; and I want to be that for my teammates."

Schieffer's leadership is not just limited to vocal encouragement; she has also led by example in her senior year. At the Matt Lampell Hudson Valley Fencing Invitational on Nov. 21, won by Vassar, Schieffer posted a perfect 17-0 record, the only undefeated performance for the team.

Having graduated three seniors last season, "The team is very fresh this year," said Schieffer, explaining that the three seniors who graduated had helped lead the team to a 31-7 record (the best in Vassar's history) last season; and this season there are four freshman and two sophomore walk-ons to fill their places. Consequently, the sabre and foil squads lack the same level of experience, but Scheiffer remains hopeful.

To improve the team's athleticism, Schieffer and her co-captains on the women and men's teams have instituted additional sessions of conditioning and mandatory weightlifting. "But we do it with a smile and have some fun with it," added Schieffer. Having fun while working hard seems to be Scheiffer's philosophy. While she observed that weightlifting gets the team in shape, she feels it's more important that it provides the team, with its many new faces, a chance to get to know each other outside of formal practices.

"It didn't take us long to get acclimated to one another," said Scheiffer. "We get along great and the freshman and walk-ons were incorporated very easily." Schieffer described the teams as "very laid back with an easy-going atmosphere," adding, "we're that team at tournaments: hanging out and joking. We're a fun group."

The team has had the same easy-going, fun character since she joined her sophomore year, according to Schieffer. Now as a captain, it's been Schieffer and her co-captain's initiative to preserve that dynamic while working towards further individual and team improvement.

"While fencing is an individual sport," explained Scheiffer, "it's also a team sport in that you can help coach, call time outs and give your teammates advice during their match." While on the road, it is especially helpful to have teammate support, said Schieffer, as volunteer assistant coaches rarely travel to away meets. "Sabre doesn't even have an assistant coach," said Schieffer, smiling. "I joke that it's the black sheep." For this reason, Schieffer asserted that it's especially important to have teammates present at individual matches.

This past weekend, the Vassar fencing team headed to a team tournament at Penn State University where they faced off against big names including New York University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of North Carolina, Temple University and the host university. Scheiffer concedes that most of Vassar's women fencers don't match up against their competitors, some of whom are NCAA Division champions. But Schieffer optimistically stated that the opportunity provided "the best fencing of our lives." She explained that when competitors' expectations are low, Vassar has a chance at an upset. "You do have a chance to beat these fencers, but you have to be on your game," noted Schieffer. Schieffer also added that the tournaments provides preparation for NCAA Regionals in the spring. "Plus, it's good team bonding having to travel together on a bus," she said.

Speaking to her expectations for the women's sabre squad, Schieffer explained that the roster isn't quite at full strength.

Hallie Stotler '14 is currently sidelined with tendonitis. Alana McGraw '15 and Rachelle Brown '13 (walk-on) make up the squad's newcomers, while Stotler, Schieffer and Tracy Bratt '13 are the only returning players. "But [McGraw] and [Brown] have won a bout at every competition they've been at which is really good," said Schieffer, whose hopes for the squad's success remain high.

In a transition period of maturation, expectations for recapturing the Northeast Championship title a second year in a row are low. But Schieffer remains optimistic, dedicated to coaching her teammates and helping to establish a foundation for Vassar women's fencing to earn a championship title once again.