Fencing in the Heart of Fishers

Cat Bouwkamp at the summer nationals.

Cat Bouwkamp, a local Fishers resident, started fencing almost six years ago. Her first experience with fencing was with me, in the YMCA Fishers beginner’s fencing class that meets every Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30p.m. She spent the first five years of her fencing career as an able bodied fencer. But the past year has really allowed her to take flight and branch out into the world of wheelchair fencing. Cat was born with a leg condition that qualifies her for both types of fencing. It was a very difficult decision for her and her family to make the switch, but she has excelled. What sets Cat apart though is her duality. Cat has become an international wheelchair fencer right here in the heart of the Midwest.

When it comes to the question of why she chose fencing over other sports, it’s the way that you have to think on your feet that really appealed to her. There is never a dull moment and the ever evolving strategies that you have to develop really help to keep you on your toes. According to Cat, “fencing is truly a high speed chess game.” There is way more than meets the eye and it is definitely nothing like the pirates and ninja movies that you see in theaters or on television. Fencing is a dynamic sport. Especially Sabre fencing in which you “cut” or as I like to refer to it, whack, your opponent in the correct target area. For every single touch on target, which is everything above the waist excluding the hands, you get one point. And you typically fence until five, ten or fifteen touches per bout or fencing session.

This past week, Cat has definitely gone above and beyond. She took home the gold in not one but all three of the fencing weapons, including Sabre, Foil and Epee. Her motto is to aim for the stars and land somewhere in between. She hopes to place in the top eight in all three weapons this fall at the World Championship. Cat has entered a world wide community of wheelchair fencers, one that is very intimate. She hopes to meet even more people and build stronger bonds with those she already knows from 2009’s Fencing World Championship.

Of course she cannot achieve any of this without the wonderful support from her parents, Alan and Janet Bouwkamp. As a freshman at Fishers High School come August, her dream is to fence in the 2012 Summer Para-Olympics in London, England. Cat is young enough that she plans on qualifying for three or more Para-Olympics, with the hopes of medaling at least once along the way, which at this point seems like a realistic goal to achieve. Cat’s recommendation to all athletes is to apply “good sportsmanship as the foundation to achieving your goals.”

Cat is a member of Indy Sabre Fencing Club, which meets regularly at the Jewish Community Center as well as teaches in several locations throughout the greater Indianapolis area. For more information please visit www.indysabre.us.