In Nyack, Precocious Swordplay

Name: Kirk Visser

School: Clarkstown South

Year: Sophomore

Sport: Fencing

Weapon: Epee

Academy: Nyack Fencing Academy, 40 Lydecker St., Nyack

Coaches: Tyler Overk of Nyack; John Scarpino of New City

Recent competition: Junior Olympics, Dallas, TX. On his first trip to a national event Visser finished 70th in a field of 212 competitors in the Epee Men’s Cadet division.

Quotable: “It (Junior Olympics) was really organized, held in a big convention center. The competition was a lot tougher than I imagined, with kids from all over the country.”

Next competition: U.S. Fencing Association Summer National Qualifier, March 20, Westchester FA in Hawthorne.

Objective: Qualify for USFA Summer Nationals in July at Reno, NV, where some 7,000-8,000 fencers will converge.

History: Kirk’s mom, Dr. Irene Kelly, was a captain on the swim team at the University of Connecticut, but fencing piqued Kirk’s interest. “In fencing you have to keep a cool head,” said Visser, who also runs cross country and distance at South. “Track is a mental sport, too. I do distance—it’s about endurance, and keeping your head out of the race, and just go.”