For the better part of last week, Johns Hopkins senior Matt Bouloubasis was in Waltham, Massachusetts, competing at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Held at Brandies University from March 25-28, the round-robin style tournament involved players from 33 NCAA Division I Fencing schools all competing for a number one spot in their respective weapons classes, or, in some cases, for enough combined victories for their team to capture an NCAA championship. The fact that Bouloubasis, who competed in the epee weapons class, was the lone Blue Jay at the tournament precluded Hopkins from factoring in the overall score at the NCAAs, (Ohio State University emerged as the winner). Bouloubasis did, however, finish in 20th place in his weapons class.
"The way the tournament works is that the men will fence for two days and the women the other two days, so I only fenced for two days," said Bouloubasis after the match.
In this respect, it was nothing in comparison to other tournaments, where he had to fence more than two days in a row, which "is quite exhausting," according to Bouloubasis.
The format of the tournament is a round robin pool of 24 fencers in each weapons division. Only the top four qualify to a direct elimination bracket. Bouloubasis showed his skill with the epee in the opening rounds by winning duals, but did not finish in the top four. As a result, he did not have a shot at the final direct elimination round or an NCAA championship.
According to Bouloubasis, the tone of the championships was one of friendliness tempered with a thick layer of rivalry between the fencers.
"It was a very friendly yet highly competitive atmosphere," said Bouloubasis. "All the bouts are of such a high caliber and competitive nature. The level... at the NCAA Championships in fencing is on par with World Cup/Olympic competitions."
No individual bout seemed any easier than the one that came before or after it, for such a setting made all the bouts of a "high caliber and competitive nature," stated the three-time NCAA championship participant. However, Bouloubasis was able to keep his mind on his primary concern: "having fun."
"In any sport is a positive mental attitude and a very relaxed approach," said Bouloubasis. In fact, he attributes his biggest strength in fencing as his "relaxed approach to the entire tournament." He avoids letting the weight of the world bear down on his shoulders while on the strips, trying "not to become excited and jittery" and "always fencing better as a result."
Besides the importance of having fun while fencing, he implied that one should not dwell on the past. Though he would have done some things differently, he has no regrets.
"Of course I would have, hindsight is always 20/20," he said. " But it only matters what you do the moment you have the chance to do it."
