Team chemistry propels fencers

In a sport that often centers on the work of a single player, the UNC fencing team is focusing on acting more like a team.

“Most programs are a collection of individuals,” said head coach Ron Miller. “We’re very much the other way around. We prefer for the individual to revolve around the team.”

And many on the squad said that team-first attitude has helped to create family-like camaraderie among teammates.

“We fence, we hang out, we do everything together,” said senior Annabelle Pereira. “We’re really close.”

And several Tar Heels credited that friendship and camaraderie as the reason for the team’s success in competition.

Both teams have dominated lately, with the men’s team cruising through last weekend’s Northwestern Duals 8-1 and the women winning 7-3.

“Everybody is behind each other 100 percent,” said sophomore Courtney Krolikoski. “We’re a very large group of very unique people, but we all work together well, and we all have common goals.”

Junior Sallie Lampron agreed, saying that for her, the close-knit relationship of the team has extended outside the locker room.

“I could pick out five people in there and say they’re five of my closest friends,” she said. “We just work so well together.”

The fellowship has even made the college experience a little less daunting for some of the younger Tar Heels, like freshman Meghan Morris.

“Even though I wasn’t in a fraternity or sorority, it was nice to be able to walk around campus and have a group of people you knew would say hello,” she said. “(The team is) really willing to help you and support you.”

Morris said the experience with the team helped her adjust to college because it helped her find her niche more quickly.

Pereira said much of the reason that team members get along so well stems from the amount of time they spend together.

“Fourteen-hour bus rides will do that to you,” she said. “You really get to know everyone better.”

But Krolikoski said another reason for the Tar Heels’ success is because Miller focuses so much on helping his players improve their game rather than focusing on the final result of the match.

“His focus isn’t always on whether we won or lost,” she said. “At the end of the day, he wants to know if you did your best.”

Lampron shared similar sentiments, saying Miller spends a lot of practice time working with individual players to find specific aspects of each individual’s game that need to be improved.

“He’s very observant,” she said. “He always seems to know what’s going on.”

Both teams will be in action Saturday with the men’s team taking part in the Drew University duals, while the women will compete in the Johns Hopkins duals.

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.