At the North Carolina Divisional Qualifier Tournament in early March, N.C. State junior and club public relations officer Kyle Barja and freshman Christian Crevar both qualified to compete in the National Fencing Championships this summer in Atlanta July 4-13.  This event will host the best fencers from across the nation. 

Barja said he has been focused on the National Championships all year. 

“Over the year I worked hard on strength and speed and now, just a few months before Nationals, my focus has shift to tactics and strategy,” Barja said.

Barja qualified to compete in the Division II and Division III men’s Foil competition at the National Championships. Crevar also qualified in the Division II men’s Foil, winning the gold medal in the event at the Divisional Tournament.

At the sectional competition Barja and Crevar hope to qualify in additional events for the upcoming championships.  Barja will compete in the Division 1A Epee and Crevar will compete in the Division 1A Foil, Division 1A being the most difficult level to compete in the events. In order to qualify, each must place in the top 25-30 percent in their event.

With each athlete having already qualified for at least one event at the National Championships, Barja and Crevar are focusing hard on their preparation.

“In practice, my focus is helping my teammates become better fencers,” said Crevar. “Helping them makes them become better competition and that in turn helps me prepare. The club members compete rigorously against one another in order to get the best out of each other and themselves.”

Barja and Crevar are intent on competing at the highest level to the best of their abilities and have put in the work that the best results require.

“If I fence like I did this past weekend, then I am prepared for Nationals,” said Crevar. “I just have to fence my game and not over-think it.”

Crevar says his main goal is to give his peak performance and make it into the direct elimination rounds at Nationals. Barja, who has competed in multiple National Championships and finished in the top 32 twice, has a loftier goal.

“The goal is a national medal,” Barja said.

In order to reach this, Barja needs to finish within the top eight at the National Championships.

“You set a goal and that’s what drives you in practice,” Barja said. “I set performance goals because I know if I perform a certain way, then the desired results will come as well.”

Before both the National Championships in July and the sectional qualifier in May, the fencing club will compete in a national tournament April 23-26 at Virginia Beach.