Fencing Whiz to Duel in National Competition

• Name: Tyler Marcos; Age: 13
• School:
• Accomplishment: Ranked 21st nationally in fencing (in the 11 and a half to 13 and a half years old age group); won first place in local tournament.
• Keys to Awesomeness: Endurance, well-roundedness

Marcos will compete in the North American Cup in Portland, Ore. this weekend. Excited and a little nervous about the upcoming event, Marcos has been training daily at the Putnam County Fencing Center with endurance and core excercises. While the work is challenging, the physical activity is what drew Marcos to the sport in the first place.

"I find you have to be more active in fencing than you do in a lot of other sports," Marcos said. "And it requires a lot of thinking at the same time."

Of the three types of fencing weapons, Marcos prefers the foil, which was once used as a training weapon in the 1700s.

"It's really interesting to learn about how each one made its way into the sport and the evolution of the sport itself," Marcos said, describing how foil fencing originated from dueling practice. "In foil you're only supposed to hit the torso because that's where the vital organs are."

Marcos has been competing in fencing tournaments almost every week for the past three years with great success. Last month he won first place in both the 12 and 14-year divisions at the Hat Factory Youth Foil and Sabre Tourney in Peekskill.  

"We've all been supporting Tyler throughout his fencing career here at school," Tom Burns, director of admissions at the Melrose School, said. "It's really great that he's out there doing what he does, it's really terrific."

Along with fencing, Marcos, who is in seventh grade, is a high-achiever academically.

"It's not just fencing, he's very well-rounded," Burns said. "He's an excellent student and on our honor roll. He enjoys activities with student council and volunteers with the Brewster too. He's a great guy all around."