Pinecrest Academy Fencers Lunge Toward the Competition with Precision

Pinecrest Fencing Practice

Head fencing coach Chad Morris, in black, explains the technique of extension versus jabbing to fencer Josiah Jones, right. At the time of this Sept. 2015 photo, the fencing team was holding practice in the school cafeteria. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Fencing Practice

Assistant coach Deirdre Donlon, foreground right, and head coach Chad Morris, background right, lead the team in an exercise surrounding blade work. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Fencing Practice

Head coach Chad Morris, foreground right, and assistant coach Deirdre Donlon, background left, discuss the fencing technique of extension. The fencing team was holding practice in the school cafeteria at the time of this Sept. 2015 photo. Photo By Michael Alexander

Fencing Equipment Still Life

High school fencers in Georgia are outwardly equipped with the epee, a glove worn on the weapon hand, a jacket with pants and a mask. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament

A Pinecrest Academy fencer holds his weapons and mask as he waits for his next bout during a Jan. 2016 tournament at Centennial High School in Roswell.

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Nov. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Nov. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy head fencing coach Chad Morris, left, demonstrates the technique of “extending while retreating” to junior fencer Jack Merritt. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Nov. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy fencers Jack Merritt, left, and Natalie Jennings engage in a sparring bout during Thursday evening practice, November 2018, at the Old Atlanta Recreation Center in Suwanee. Looking on and waiting their turn in the background are (l-r) Jiexi Li, Jonni Goughnour and Julia Hartman.Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

During a sparring bout, senior Isabella Caraballo, background, performs one of fencing’s basic attacks known as a lunge. She closes the distance between her teammate, freshman Matthew Crane, by moving her front leg forward while the back leg remains stationary. At the same time, Matthew is executing what is known as a parry, a defensive move where a fencer blocks the opponent’s blade. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Junior fencer Alberto Figueredo fences during a tournament bout in December 2018 at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy freshman fencer Julia Hartman, top, participates in a bout with an opponent during a tournament last December at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek. After the bout, which Hartman won 5-4, she held a bout record of three wins and one loss at that point in the tournament. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Juliana Jennings fences during a December 2018 tournament. At the end of the previous fencing season (2017-2018) as a junior, Juliana Jennings finished 11th among Georgia high school fencers. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy senior fencer Juliana Jennings, center, shakes hands with her opponent after her fifth victorious bout during a tournament last December at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek. Jennings is one of eight female teammates who qualified to compete in the individual fencing championship at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek on Jan. 26. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Senior fencer Isabella Caraballo waits for her bout to begin during a Dec. 1, 2018 tournament at Chattahoochee High School. Caraballo has fenced all four years after quitting tennis to do fencing full-time. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Isabella Caraballo takes on an opponent during a Dec. 2018 tournament. Caraballo fenced for Puerto Rico at USA Fencing’s 2018 Pan American Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships in Costa Rica. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

(L-r) Pinecrest Academy fencers (l-r) Juliana Jennings, Isabella Caraballo and Delaney Bingham hang along the wall as they wait their next bouts. Photo By Michael Alexande

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Isabella Caraballo fenced at USA Fencing’s 2017 Junior Olympic National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri, and the 2018 Junior Olympic National Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Senior fencers Juliana Jennings, left, and Isabella Caraballo look over the scores during a Dec. 2018 tournament. At the end of the previous fencing season (2017-2018) as a juniors, Caraballo and Jennings finished 10th and 11th respectively, among Georgia high school fencers. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

The right foot of senior fencer Andrew Flowers indicates an advance move toward his opponent during a bout. Flowers quit the Pinecrest Academy baseball team after his freshman year in order to become a full-time fencer. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy senior fencer Andrew Flowers employs a technique known as “checking” in an effort to bait his opponent. Flowers played baseball during his freshman year, but once he started fencing he dropped baseball to fence as a full-time sport. He competed in the 2018 USA Fencing National Championships held in St. Louis, Missouri, last summer. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

Alberto Figueredo, center, counts the number of bouts he had up to that point during a tournament last December at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek. Standing with Figueredo are his teammates Andrew Flowers, left, and Matthew Crane, right. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Tournament (Dec. 2018)

As members of the team look on, Pinecrest Academy head fencing coach Chad Morris, foreground in green jacket, demonstrates why distance matters during fencing with senior Claire Rivard. Practice is held at the Old Atlanta Recreation Center in Suwanee. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Dec. 2018)

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Dec. 2018)

Coach Chad Morris goes over blade technique with senior fencers Isabella Caraballo, left, and Andrew Flowers. Caraballo and Flowers are this season’s team captains. Photo By Michael Alexander

Pinecrest Academy @ Fencing Practice (Dec. 2018)