Megan Gesner is over halfway through her senior season on the UC San Diego fencing team. When she first began her collegiate career, fencing was a family affair, as she competed alongside her older sister, Munira. Megan has continued the family's distinction on the strip, earning All-Western Fencing Conference honors the past two seasons. With three years of standout performances behind her, Megan sat down to reflect on her time fencing for the Tritons. It is clear that despite her prior accolades, the fire of competition still burns within her as she enters her final months at UCSD. She discussed her memorable moments, and how she still has much to prove inside and out of fencing.
Q: Your sister fenced at UCSD. What kind of a relationship do you have with her, and what were the two years like when you fenced together at UCSD?
GESNER: My sister and I are very close and always have been. Because our fencing styles are so different, being able to fence with her for two years at the college level was a blessing. She always gave me something different to work with or on.
Q: How does it feel to be in your final season?
GESNER: Like any good thing coming to an end, my final season has been extremely bittersweet for me. I have never felt so much nostalgia in my life, than in this final year alone.
Q: What are your personal and team goals for the season?
GESNER: My personal goal for this season is to acknowledge that I am good at what I do. I have a bad habit of talking myself down, and I need to learn to quit this attitude. My team goal for this season is to dominate the Northwestern Duals (this weekend in Indiana). I want UCSD to go out there and surprise all these Ivy League colleges with how far we've come in these past four years. Another goal I have for my team is to send a UCSD fencer of each weapon to the NCAA Championships this year.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of fencing?
GESNER: I love how expressive fencing can be. Nothing feels better than landing a cleanly-executed touch and then yelling victoriously over it. If fencers weren't allowed to celebrate their touches, then all the showmanship would be gone from the sport.
Q: What has been your favorite moment at UCSD so far, both as a fencer and outside of competition?
GESNER: My favorite moment as a fencer was when the women's team won the Western Invitational in 2015. That was momentous for UCSD Fencing because it set the tone for the following years to come, as demonstrated by this year's West Invitational when our women's team won the conference a second year in a row! I'm not sure if this counts as 'outside of competition,' but one of the most memorable moments for me was traveling to Virginia Beach as a freshman for the North American Cup. Out of this trip manifested friendships and relationships that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Q: In a sport where only two contestants face off, what have you done to build camaraderie with your teammates over the past three years?
GESNER: During the few times where I DO compete against a teammate, the most important thing to remember is to leave everything on the strip. Once the bout is over, my main focus becomes supporting my teammates, because I know that's what they would do for me.
Q: You major in human development. How have your studies helped your skills as a fencer? Has your knowledge of the mind come in handy when you try to psych out your opponent?
GESNER: To put it simply, the main goal of studying human development is to get a better understanding of why humans do what they do. Through my studies, I have grown more mature as a fencer. I am much more diplomatic toward referees and much more observant of my opponent. Through observation of body language and attitude, sometimes I am able to successfully predict what my opponent is going to do against me next. My knowledge of the mind helps keep me grounded and calm, which can always frustrate an opponent who is high-strung and excitable.
Q: Do you have any plans on how you will celebrate your final bout?
GESNER: Yes. I plan on romanticizing the end of my athletic career by watching the sunset on Black's Beach.
Q: How has fencing helped you, not only as an athlete, but as a person overall?
GESNER: As an athlete, fencing has shown me what I am capable of, physically. As a person overall, fencing has taught me to be confident in myself, to sympathize with others, to accept losses and celebrate victories, to be thankful for those who have pushed me and supported me, and to be patient with those who have held me back.
Q: What does life after fencing look like?
GESNER: Life after fencing looks like grad school. I would love to get a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) or, depending on time, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and eventually head my own practice. Fingers crossed!
Q: What advice would you give to any young readers who want to pursue fencing?
GESNER: Fencing is an amazing sport, but it is challenging! If competitive fencing sounds like something you'd like to do, you have to be 100 percent confident in your decision. Not only is it heavily technique-based, but it is also extremely political. This means that you must be ready to dedicate a LOT of time to practice and a lot of time learning the social aspects of the sport. Despite all this, fencing is very doable! You just need to have the right level of determination, intrigue and passion.
Previous Triton Q&A Features
Tanner Syftestad (Men's Volleyball) January 4, 2016
Grant Jackson (Men's Basketball) December 18, 2015
Stephanie Sin (Women's Swimming & Diving) November 25, 2015
Beth Mounier (Women's Basketball) November 17, 2015
Nick Alexander (Men's Water Polo) October 21, 2015
Myles Cooper (Strength & Conditioning) October 6, 2015
Jordyn McNutt (Women's Soccer) September 8, 2015
Cameron McElfresh (Men's Soccer) September 1, 2015
Daniel Franz (Men's Cross Country) August 17, 2015
Meagan Wright (Women's Volleyball) August 10, 2015
Chase Cockerill (Men's Water Polo) August 3, 2015
Kelcie Brodsky (Women's Soccer) July 27, 2015
Kuba Waligorski (Men's Soccer) July 20, 2015
Nate Garcia (Cross Country) July 13, 2015
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