By Julia Zinser
Dressed in his fencing gear, freshman Jadon Taylor stands with his Saber and mask on Saturday, Oct. 23. “I get really excited [during a match],” Taylor said. “Of course you have to remain kind and sportsmanlike to your friends and whoever you beat, but in my mind I’m taunting them.”
Ambitious freshman fencer Jadon Taylor aims to reach his full potential
Seven years of fencing led Taylor to pursue his dream of the Junior Olympics
After discovering his fascination for the sport of fencing at the age of seven, freshman Jadon Taylor has experienced many physical and lifestyle changes that have contributed to his ultimate fencing goal: going to the Junior Olympics, the largest sporting event for youth in the United States. Taylor participates in Saber, one of the three different styles of fencing.
According to Taylor, Saber fencing “requires a lot more work and physical ability” than other types. Saber swords tend to be wider and flatter, and during a match, points can only be scored by attacks on the upper body.
Taylor’s devotion to fencing began with an early childhood dream that eventually led him to begin a career of the sport.
“This sounds really nerdy, but when I was a little kid I was in love with ‘Star Wars’ and always wanted to be a Jedi,” Taylor said. “I found out about fencing and started watching the Olympics and I fell in love with it.”
Ever since Taylor began fencing, he has gained a healthier lifestyle that has proved to be beneficial to his overall well-being.
“Fencing has actually helped me a lot because in middle school I was out of shape,” Taylor said. “Now that I have started fencing, I have gotten back into shape and I’m more healthy; It’s really helped my life.”
Benjamin Kloeppersmith, Taylor’s fencing coach of almost four years, said that Taylor is different from many other Saber fencers that he has coached at the Kansas City Fencing Club.
“Compared to other Saber fencers, [Taylor] is very quiet, much more well behaved. Most Sabre fencers are very explosive with their personalities,” Kloeppersmith said. “He is always very dedicated and hungry for more fencing.”
Aside from fulfilling his childhood dream, Taylor enjoys fencing because of the thrill he experiences during a match.
“[When I’m fencing], I get an adrenaline rush and I get laser focus. I get really excited,” Taylor said. “I’m just happy to be doing what I love.”
According to Kloeppersmith, Taylor could go far in his fencing career as long as he remains energetic and content with the sport.
“Fencing is a life sport,” Kloeppersmith said. “Hopefully we can keep him hungry and happy and he’ll be 75 years old and still fencing.”
Taylor’s overall goal for his future in fencing is to make it to the Junior Olympics.
“I would like to try out for the Junior Olympics, which would be amazing if I got in because there are about 500 to 600 people who try out every year,” Taylor said. “If I got in that would be enough for me, I would be super happy.”
Participating in the sport ultimately puts Taylor in touch with his childhood and reminds him of why he began fencing in the first place.
“Fencing kind of does bring me back to being a six year old kid again,” Taylor said. “Like I’m fighting bad guys in ‘Star Wars,’ it’s just really fun.”