La Jolla Country Day School junior Larissa Kenney made the most of her recent trip to Atlanta to compete in the North America Cup Challenge against other fencers from across North America. Kenney finished third overall in a strong field of 50 women’s sabre fencers.
Kenney earned her C07, a level of fencing, one level below what is needed to compete in World Cup-level competitions. In the final day of competition in Atlanta, Kenney finished in the medals with a strong eighth-place showing. She lost to a four-year veteran ” and eventual event champion ” in a close quarterfinal bout.
Kenney spoke with La Jolla Village News recently about her background in fencing, what is next for her as far as competition, and her Atlanta experience.
LJVN: How many years have you been fencing and how did you get your start in it?
Kenney: I have been fencing for about three years now, and I started as a freshman with my school team. I fenced at school for the whole winter season, and when that was over I began to fence with a club outside of school. I started competing in August of 2005, and I have fenced in two junior Olympics, one summer national championship, three Pacific Coast championships (two junior and one senior), and four North American cups since. I got my first national rating at the summer national championships last July, by placing eighth out of 98 competitors in Division III for my weapon. I increased my rating just recently at the North American cup in Atlanta, with a bronze medal in Division III and eighth place in Division II. Ratings are A thru E and “unrated.” A and B can do world cups. I got my D over the summer, and my C in Atlanta two weeks ago.
LJVN: What do you enjoy most about fencing? What are the challenges?
Kenney: I love fencing because it is so individual, so everything is about self-improvement and making yourself a better athlete. I like that as I work hard (she trains at least four to five days a week and competes almost every weekend) ” I can see myself improving as a result of that hard work. When you are in a competition and you are fencing someone, no one can help you win, and you basically have to do it all by yourself. It makes you stronger and more independent, and it teaches you how to achieve excellence without the help of others. Almost all of the challenges I have experienced were internal, which made them all within my control to overcome, which I like very much. A huge challenge is when you fence someone you have fenced before and lost to, because it is a very good chance to prove to yourself that you have improved in the time that has passed. Another very internal challenge is when I am having an off day at a tournament and I know I am not on my game nearly as much as I need to be to do well. At that point, I have to make a decision to turn myself around rather than stay in a slump and perform poorly. That ability to come up from a slump like that is not only one of the most difficult abilities to cultivate, but it is one of the most amazing ones to use once you can.
LJVN: What is next for you as far as competition?
Kenney: My next big competition is the Division I North American cup in Tucson (April). My new rating I got two weeks ago makes me eligible for the first time to compete in a Division I NAC (only A, B and C fencers are allowed to enter). I will be in the same competition as members of the United States Olympic team, and many competitors in world cups, not to mention NCAA champions. This is the highest level of fencing that the United States has to offer, short of world cups and world championships our team fences in. I hope soon to be able to fence in world cups, hopefully before I go to college, and I hope very much to be able to fence for a good school when I go to university.
LJVN: Were you happy with the Atlanta results?
Kenney: I was ecstatic with my results in Atlanta. I did as well as I know I can and better than I hoped I would. It is very rare for someone with my small amount of experience competing to be able to fence their absolute best at a tournament of this caliber. My only hope is that my streak of medal winning will continue throughout the rest of the season.
