Emily Reece has been a dedicated member of Ardsley athletics for some time now, being a member of the fencing team and spring track since freshman year and the girls varsity soccer goalkeeper since sophomore year.
Despite being a star on the team, Reece only began fencing when she was a freshman. She got her start when her and “a group of friends decided to join the team just for fun and ended up loving it!” With fencing being changed around a bit this year, Emily was able to give some insider information about what her senior season is going to look like. After already being delayed until January, the fencing team is keeping their fingers crossed that their promise of a January 11 start date stays true.
When asked about differences to the actual sport, Reece explained that “(The team) won’t be fencing as many teams as normal and at the moment won’t be having sectionals.” Despite the waiting to see if the season will go on, Reece most definitely has not given up on her training. In order to keep in shape and be ready, Emily has been “doing lots of physical training and been working on (her) footwork and wrist strength.” Reece also enjoys reminiscing about past seasons, stating that “my greatest achievement was being on the first team for epee my sophomore year, when we won gold at sectionals.” For anyone else who wasn’t sure what epee means, it is the largest and heaviest blade that fencers use.
The best part of any athletic achievement is most definitely doing it with your team, and this is no different for Emily Reece. She described a highlight of being on the team as doing “the cheer we do before every meet.” Teammates become family, as Reece already knows, and she loves “having the support of a whole team where you win and lose together” to help make the experience even better. Someone who inspires this budding athlete of ours is the boxing king himself, Muhammad Ali. Reece explains that “He came back to the ring after a series of challenges and ended up beating some of the most formidable boxers of that time! He shows that tenacity and a desire to keep pushing will get you positive results.” If that doesn’t make you wanna get up and achieve your goals, then I don’t know what will! Even though she’s a three season athlete, Reece has some other hidden talents up her sleeve.
When asked what she enjoys doing outside of sports, Reece was happy to say “I love to play guitar! It’s a great way to relieve stress and have some fun.” Definitely no one-trick pony if you ask me. Emily Reece has been an essential part of every team she’s been on here at AHS for the past four years. Although she won’t be continuing fencing at college, we know that she will go off to do great things!