Dueling To WIn One Battle At A Time (by Sue DeWerff & 321Sportscast

DUELING TO WIN ONE BATTLE AT A TIME

(By Sue DeWerff & 321Sportscast)

For 16 year-old, Rebekah Bucur, her success in fencing—one of the oldest sports of the Olympic Games—could be her ticket to a college scholarship.

                  

Her recent performance at the largest national competition to date held last month in Columbus, Ohio, has sparked interest from University recruitment personnel. 

Since, she has received invites for scholarship programs at both Temple University and Cleveland State. Bucur, a home schooled junior, finished among the top 25 percent of women, placing 21 st, out of 230 participants in the Division I women’s  Epee discipline, (pronounced EPP-Pay) . “I try to think about winning one bout at a time,” she said. “I just have fun, it’s something I enjoy and love a lot.” Described as a sport that requires a tremendous amount of mental concentration, as well as athletic agility, it is often compared to playing a game of chess.

Bucur, who aspires to become a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant, and hopes to attend medical school, told 321sportscast she plans to continue competing at major events in order to attract more attention from University coaches and scouts. To even get a qualification to be a fencer at the national level requires a lot. According to Bucur, it means winning at the regional level. To date, she has won her all of her divisional bouts throughout statewide competition. 

(from left to right: Rebekah, Coach Daniel, Naomi)

Last summer, 2018, she was the runner-up at the national event in the Division II junior women’s epee contest, having lost by just one touch. Currently a “B” rated fencer, ( the top Olympians being the majority of “A” rated athlete’s in the sport), Bucur said her goal is to attend a college where she can be a part of the women’s Epee team.  A member of the Central Florida Fencing Club, and daughter of Daniel Bucur, coach and owner of Genesis Fencing School and Club, of Viera, Rebekah began fencing at age 7. She and her sister, Naomi, 15, are now mentors and assist in training and teaching youth the fundamentals of the sport at the school. “I really enjoy working with all the kids, especially those that really want to learn the sport,” said Bucur. “Fencing is a game of precision, it’s all about timing which helps coordination skills,” said Daniel Bucur. “Our hope is to hold a few local tournaments here at the Viera Youth Recreation Center this fall,” he added. “Though many of my students compete at regional competitions throughout the state, having a local venue here to showcase our outstanding students would be great.” (by Sue DeWerff & 321Sportscast)

                  For more information about Genesis Fencing Club or private fencing lessons, visit www.GenesisFencingClub.com or call 321-355-8079.