University of North Carolina Athletics
The team huddles at UNC's Outdoor Adventure Center
Ropes Course Helps Fencing Team Strengthen Bonds, Prep For Season
September 14, 2017 | Fencing
The Tar Heels conquerred obstacles at the Outdoor Education Center
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The first team competition of the 2017-18 season is still more than a month away, but the UNC men's and women's fencing squads have already banded together to conquer a challenge. The Tar Heels spent a recent Saturday at UNC's Outdoor Education Center, where they tackled the ropes course and other exercises the Carolina coaching staff and student-athletes hope will enhance an already-strong team bond.
"I had high hopes for our first team-building program, and was even then very pleasantly surprised with the group's development," said junior Ian Head, a foil fencer from London.
This year's team has an unusually-large number of first-year members, which served as extra motivation for the outing, which took place on Sept. 2. "We decided to do a teambuilding experience with the UNC Outdoor Center because a number of our team members asked for a chance to work on being a closer team," assistant coach Will Randolph said. "With a large incoming first year class, we thought it would be a good idea to give them a chance to bond outside of a fencing context."
A favorite activity involved the students cooperating to get each member of the team over a 14-foot wall. "The team was required quite literally to put each member of the team on their backs, in their hands and on their shoulders to lift every member over the wall," Head said. "Beyond the symbolism it was a great way to work on team communication and trust."
Another activity was called Flying Squirrel: One brave student was hooked to the end of a rope then dangled 35 feet in the air, suspended by the efforts of 10 teammates holding other end of the rope.
"It was a chance to literally put your life in the hands of your team," Randolph said. "It was a great way to end the day. Our next big goal is to take the hard work and lessons from the ropes course and implement them in our daily routines."
As the Tar Heels dive into their practice routine and prepare for the start of the 2017-18 season, they hope the experience will give them a boost.
"Everyone left with a renewed sense of motivation and inspiration," said Sydney Persing, a junior foil fencer from Livingston, N.J. "I also think we gained a mutual respect for one another in a way we hadn't before. I anticipate this will be Carolina fencing's strongest season yet, and when it is, I'll credit the course for helping us lay a strong foundation so early on."
"I had high hopes for our first team-building program, and was even then very pleasantly surprised with the group's development," said junior Ian Head, a foil fencer from London.
This year's team has an unusually-large number of first-year members, which served as extra motivation for the outing, which took place on Sept. 2. "We decided to do a teambuilding experience with the UNC Outdoor Center because a number of our team members asked for a chance to work on being a closer team," assistant coach Will Randolph said. "With a large incoming first year class, we thought it would be a good idea to give them a chance to bond outside of a fencing context."
A favorite activity involved the students cooperating to get each member of the team over a 14-foot wall. "The team was required quite literally to put each member of the team on their backs, in their hands and on their shoulders to lift every member over the wall," Head said. "Beyond the symbolism it was a great way to work on team communication and trust."
Another activity was called Flying Squirrel: One brave student was hooked to the end of a rope then dangled 35 feet in the air, suspended by the efforts of 10 teammates holding other end of the rope.
"It was a chance to literally put your life in the hands of your team," Randolph said. "It was a great way to end the day. Our next big goal is to take the hard work and lessons from the ropes course and implement them in our daily routines."
As the Tar Heels dive into their practice routine and prepare for the start of the 2017-18 season, they hope the experience will give them a boost.
"Everyone left with a renewed sense of motivation and inspiration," said Sydney Persing, a junior foil fencer from Livingston, N.J. "I also think we gained a mutual respect for one another in a way we hadn't before. I anticipate this will be Carolina fencing's strongest season yet, and when it is, I'll credit the course for helping us lay a strong foundation so early on."
Players Mentioned
Foil/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Foil/Right Hand
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