Winning gold for the U.S.A., Jake Mann (‘26) and his fencing team proudly posed for a picture at the Pan American Championships in Bogotá, Colombia.

     This championship took place earlier this year from Feb. 24 to March 1. Mann competed in the junior men’s sabre category. The team took gold after a thrilling contest with Team Canada, defeating them 44-40.

      Mann is a member of the Wanglei International Fencing Academy and has been fencing for over ten years. He had initially started the sport for fun and to spend time with his friend, but over time he became more interested in the sport.

     Reflecting on his early experiences, Mann said, “When I first tried fencing, I thought it was really cool and different from other sports. Over time, I became more committed and continued training, and it eventually became a big part of my life.”

    How does Mann handle the pressure of competition? Mann has effective strategies he uses to stay focused on the game. “I try to remind myself to focus on each point and trust my skills. I tell myself that the result is not the most important thing, but the process and effort I put into the match.” 

     June marks the end of his time at South, but not his time fencing. He has been accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he will join the Division I fencing team and continue competing in NCAA competitions.

     After countless practices and dozens of competitions, the journey of fencing is what matters to Mann the most. “Fencing is more than just a sport to me. Through every training session and competition, whether I win or lose, I always learn something new.”