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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1981)
Section SANDY, OREGON THURSDAY, JAN 1, 1981 The Sanity Post Area News En garde ’. The M t. Hood Community College P .E department offers fo il fencing at the beginning level. You, to o can be a In their masks, jackets and gloves, they look like a cross between the Three Musketeers and Darth Vader Between 15 and 25 Mt. Hood Community College students take up the sport each te rm as part of the college’s physical education program. Taught by A1 Manley, the MHCC fencing course is a one-term class that is designed to give the student a grasp of the basics of the sport “ We try to give them an understanding of the rules of the game and enough technique to take part in it,” says Manley, who has a good deal of experience in the sport both as a competitor and instruct nr. Fencing, which is an Olympic sport, is divided into three competitive areas — foil, saber and epee The MHCC course concentrates on fo il and offers in struction for both beginning and intermediate students. “ ’Hie interm ediate students have had some ex perience in fencing, usually one te rm ,” says Manley. " H ie beginners, of course, are starting from scratch.” Fencing can be an expensive sport to get into The masks, jackets and gloves can run up to $75 and more, Manely reports. ‘ ‘The easiest way to get into it u> the community colleges,” he says. " A ll your basic equipment is provided.” Manley says the classes usually start with about 25 students but roughly a th ird of those students w ill drop out before the term is over, A new coirse w ill begin at MHCC in January. It is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a m. An equipment fee is charged En garde. A fa r cry from simple sweats, fencing uniforms include jackets, gauntlets, and mesh masks footwork, which sometimes is as delicate as ballet People Home & Garden Features
