Bendy Swords and Perseverance

En garde! This phrase thrusts Naomi Cova into action as she sets her stance and lunges to attack her opponent. No need to worry about blood, their swords are thin and bendy.
Fencing is a timed sport that consists of different sections called bouts. Each bout lasts about three minutes. You win by scoring fifteen points or touches. To win you must have 15 touches or the most by the end of the match. The specific type of fencing that Cova participates in is called saber.
The competitors score a point by touching the other person with the tip of their sword. Do not worry they are not stabbing each other on bare skin. The competitors wear special gear to protect them. These include a jacket, mask, glove, etc.
The difference between regular fencing and saber is that saber moves faster, and the competitors are much more aggressive. If Cova makes one hesitation it can put her behind in her bout.
Many students have never picked up a sword in their life let alone trained to become a warrior. Cova has diligently worked and refined her skills as she learned how to use a bendy sword and plunge it into the chest of her opponent.
“Naomi’s approach to fencing is reflective of her strong character and attention to detail. She is a devoted contributor to the fencing community and sets a good example of leadership for young fencers,” Edwards (Cova’s coach) said.
Cova has been fencing for about two and a half years and has been training at Salt Lake City swords. She has made a strong connection to the sport and is setting up a good future for young aspiring athletes. Many of whom are just beginning to learn the language of their bendy swords.
Cova loves to dance, go horseback riding, and compete in fencing during her free time. She loves to try new things and be involved at school with theater. Whatever Cova puts her mind to, she gives it all her focus and energy.
Through the Pioneer Theater Company Cova entered a huge cast of three people and became a part of a play called “What the Constitution Means to me” she acted the role of a debater and loved the experience she had with this Company.
Cova also participates in Highland will play in the feature ensemble of Hades Town this fall. She is also a dedicated student who works hard in her classes, and this might be because of her competitive side.
“I’m a very competitive person; I mean, I have an older sister. The competitive drives have drawn me to this sport and motivate me to do my best and achieve my goals,” Cova said.
Fencing allows Cova to take out her energy on her opponents rather than letting it fuel her competition with her sister. Fencing has also given her new motivation as she looks forward to practice. Even though the diameters are thin, Cova still accomplishes large goals.
The competitors play on a long narrow strip called a piste. These could be compared to boundaries in a basketball or football game. A piste is 14 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.
Although the sport diameters may seem thin, there are quite a few students at Highland who participate in this joust.
Aggie Boyd, a freshman at highland, also competes with Salt Lake City. She has been fencing for six years and started after she went to a summer camp. Boyd wanted to do a sport and so she created her own goals so that she could improve her own skills and abilities.
“It’s a really great environment where we build each other up and offer advice when people need or want it, and [it] of course feels really good to beat someone,” Boyd said.
Both Cova and Boyd have worked with each other and offered the other advice so they can improve together. They also have both had to challenge their mental strength. This includes finding motivation to keep moving forward.
Cova has been able to build her own mental fortitude as she competes to help her give all her energy into fighting her opponent rather than her own mind. She has a few exercises that she does to help herself reset.
One of these exercises includes tensing her muscles and then relaxing them. She does this slowly as goes one by one area of her body, from her head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
“I think the word ‘fierce’ fits her well. She is fiercely loyal and loving to her friends and family. [She] fiercely goes after the things in her life that she cares about and wants to make happen, she brings this same mindset to fencing,” Cova’s mother said.
These words perfectly illustrate Cova’s character. She is aggressive in her competition as she fights hard to beat her opponent, and she is powerful with her blows. She also practices hard physically and mentally to ensure that she does well each time she steps into a tournament.
With each battle that Cova faces she gives it everything she has. No matter who her opponent is or what has happened during the day, Cova dials in, takes a deep breath, and continues forward.
These valuable skills that Cova has learned help her refine her footing as she resets, not to hesitate in her decisions, and have a hopeful perspective.