Celebrating 90 years of fencing at Western
By Carol Christie
This year we acknowledged an important milestone – the 90th anniversary of fencing at Western.
It has been 90 years since Alan Acres established a fencing club at the University. Alan served as Western’s first fencing coach. Drawing on his experience competing in the sport, he trained interested athletes in both the French style of fencing, as well as the Italian style.
By 1936, the men’s fencing team was making their mark at intercollegiate competitions, including the Assault at Arms. The event included three sports: the Mitt Men (boxers), the Mat Men (wrestlers) and the Fencers, with combined scores determining the winning university. In previous years Western lost this event because they did not have a fencing team entered, but in 1936 coach L.H.Davies finally got fencers S. Korey, H. Hamilton, and John Lee in the game. Later, at the banquet celebration, the fencers were presented with a Bar, Crest and Shield for their victory. After this auspicious start, Western won the Assault at Arms the next three years.
In March 1939, men’s foilists John Lee and Reg Haskins started a women’s fencing class which marked the beginning of The Mustang Sisters - a legacy of athletic excellence that continues to this day.
Since those early days, there have been many talented coaches including Bob Foxcroft, Tanya Tygesen, Tomek Amborski, Sabine Noelke, Chris Ram, John Buchner, Kyle Foster, Paul Sims and Brigitte Gagne. We are in the process of collecting stories from these individuals, which we plan to showcase on our team website – keep a look out!
To everyone who has supported us over the years, thank you. We cannot do this without your help. A big thanks to Brian, Phil, and Vanessa Bacal, all Western sabre fencers, who have started our first endowment fund.
To all our amazing fencers, you have represented Western with skill, style and panache. You are very dear to our hearts. Now that you are alumni, we hope you will keep in touch with us.
