Only one year after taking up fencing, 14-year-old Kanushi Desai of Midland has qualified for her first Junior Olympics with the help of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Fencing Alliance.
“I feel like I have accomplished so much,” Desai said. “I feel like I can learn so much from (the Junior Olympics).”
Alliance coach Nathan Bass said steadfast dedication has been the key to Desai’s rapid progression in the sport of fencing.
Bass said Desai takes two fencing classes each week along with practicing at home. In addition to fencing, he said she excels at school and in music.
“I only have a handful of students and all of them put in the time and effort,” he said. “Fencing (is) not something you can do with only two nights at the club.”
The goal of the nonprofit fencing alliance is to provide a space and exposure for Olympic-style fencing in the Tri-Cities. Two other fencers, 14-year-old Jeremy Diepstra of Mount Pleasant and 17-year-old Andrew Owens of Beaverton, also qualified. The Junior Olympics takes place from Feb. 17 through Feb. 20 in Denver, Colorado.
The Junior Olympics for USA Fencing will be held from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
Photo ProvidedThe regional fencing alliance in Freeland is one of only a few in Michigan; other clubs are in Grand Rapids, Royal Oak and Ann Arbor. The Great Lakes Bay Alliance is the only club in the region with all three weapon types: foil, epee and saber.
When participating in competitions, Desai said she is looking to “persevere” in an exciting environment.
“There’s a lot of thrill and in-the-moment action,” she said. “When you step onto the strip during a competition or a practice, you feel ready. (You think), ‘I can do this.’”
For Diepstra’s part, perseverance has also served him well. He bounced back from an initial defeat to qualify for the Junior Olympics. Looking ahead to February, Diepstra hopes to use lessons from the Junior Olympics to give him an upper hand.
“I can use what I learned and work on it,” he said. “There’s a coach that showed up and molded me into a fencer … I have been progressing day by day.”
Fencing is a growing sport, according to Bass. Diepstra said it takes intellectual skills, similar to a game of chess.
“It’s just you, your coach and your athletic ability,” Diepstra said. “There’s a lot to learn. It takes a lot of foot work, blade work and mental acuity.”
Bass estimates 50 long-term students belong to the alliance. For more information on the club, visit www.bayregionalfencingalliance.com.
