Sabre Success: Alicia’s Fencing Journey at Wycombe Abbey
2 April 2026 - Sport
In the world of competitive fencing, victory is often decided by the narrowest of margins, a fraction of a second or a single lapse in concentration. For Wycombe Abbey pupil, Alicia (LVI), mastering these margins has led to a standout performance: a third-place finish in the U18 Sabre at the Southern Region qualifiers. Her success is a result of a deliberate blend of technical discipline and a psychological approach that is often described as ‘physical chess’.
Alicia’s interest in the sport began when she arrived at Wycombe in UIII, drawn to what she viewed as a ‘skilled and technical sport’. Since then, she has transitioned from a curious beginner to a calculated competitor who thrives on outmanoeuvring her rivals. Her primary strategic weapon is deception; she often finds success by ‘trying to fool my opponent by changing my approach mid attack’ because, as she notes, it effectively ‘confuses them’.
However, this high-level strategy requires a rock-solid technical foundation. Alicia has spent significant time refining the mechanics of her game, specifically her defensive movements. She admits her parry ‘was quite messy’ before she committed to the hard work of making it ‘neater’. In the fast-paced world of the sabre, she also emphasises the difficulty of the lunge, where a fencer must ‘hit your opponent before your foot hits the floor’ – a move that ‘requires lots of pace and practice to make sure you time it right’.
During the pressure of the Southern Region qualifiers, Alicia relied on a specific mental routine to stay focused. While many athletes turn to high-energy music, she prefers ‘softer music because it makes me feel calmer,’ which she finds essential in ‘fast paced environments such as on the Piste’. This calm allows her to enter a ‘zone’ where she can silently watch her opponents and ‘analyse their attacks and determine what I can do to counter them’. Her internal focus during her best bouts remained simple: ‘To stay calm and for my technique not to get messy in the moment’.
Beyond the physical benefits, fencing has served as a catalyst for Alicia’s personal growth. She reflects on how the sport has helped her overcome a lack of self-assurance. ‘I wasn’t the most confident person before,’ she explains, ‘but once you walk onto a Piste and it’s you and your opponent it is so important to be confident and assertive in what you do’. She has successfully ‘carried this forward into who I am outside of the sport as well’.
Maintaining this level of athletic excellence alongside her studies at Wycombe Abbey requires a disciplined schedule. By training with an external club on Monday nights, Alicia has learned to manage her time strictly, noting, ‘I try to stay on top of all of my work as much as possible so then I can focus more on fencing when I need to’.
As she looks toward her goals for the next year, Alicia’s advice for those interested in the sport is straightforward: ‘To give it a go. 100%’.
Congratulations Alicia, we can’t wait to see where your fencing journey takes you next!
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