Fab Five: Konami Masui

Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings, and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos throughout their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com.

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Today, UC San Diego Fencing scholar-athlete Konami Masui shares her collection. 

Entering her senior year this fall, Konami has been a mainstay in the Tritons' foil contingent, serving as the squad captain for the 2019-20 season. In addition, she was the team's representative on the Triton Athletes' Council (TAC).

As a freshman in 2018, she wasted no time making a mark for herself on the collegiate scene, qualifying for the NCAA National Collegiate Championships at Penn State University. There, Konami earned victories over competitors from Cornell, Duke, and Harvard.

In January of her sophomore campaign, she won gold in Senior Women's Foil at the San Diego Cup.

Hailing from Torrance in the South Bay of Los Angeles, Konami is a communication major out of UC San Diego's Roosevelt College. A Dodgers fan, she also roots for the United States and Japanese National Fencing Teams. Following graduation, Konami is interested in civilian logistics and environmental consulting as well as becoming an Olympic-level fencing referee.

1. Friends and Fans Forever

One of the things I’m most grateful for are the fencers and fellow teammates that joined the team the same year I did. From traveling across the nation to goofing around to cheering each other on, they’ve been with me since the beginning! My teammates helped push my chin up when I had to deal with a huge loss and cheered for me the loudest when I got that fifth touch (to win). I chose this picture because this was one of the first collegiate tournaments we competed in and for the women’s team, it was our fourth consecutive conference title win. Although some are no longer with the team, they still come out to support, which speaks volumes. They will always be dear to my heart.

2. Support System

Being one of the 24 collegiate fencers to represent their school at championships was a moment I’ll never forget. Fencing since the age of ten, going up against some of the best fencers not just in collegiate fencing, but in the world, was a dream come true. Being in Penn State’s big indoor gym with so many great fencers and coaches was pretty nerve-racking, but I shook off my anxiety and focused on why I was able to be there. I’ve worked hard since before coming to college and felt that it finally paid off. I never would have thought this would also give me the opportunity to be on TV, which was a pretty cool plus. I chose this picture to show the preparation you have to do to get yourself ready for championships at this level. This photo and moment wouldn’t have happened if I did not have amazing people like the coaches at UC San Diego, who are always striving for more. Coach Josh (Runyan), in particular, never stopped encouraging me and was always able to see deeper than just the score. He was there for me through the hardest and most rewarding times and I am blessed to call him my coach. Coach (Dave) Burgess is also someone I really admire. As the team armorer, you don’t get to see him out on the strip often, unless it's broken. However, he puts all his elbow grease and then some to keep all of our equipment in tip-top shape. As fencers, there are a lot of wires and metal that can go haywire (pun intended) and he never bats an eye or wastes a breath to get it fixed. I feel very fortunate and humbled to have them in my life and they are just a few of the amazing people in the world of fencing.

3. Shout it Out Loud!

If there’s one thing my team knows it's that I’m tiny but mighty, loud, and proud. I always saw myself as a team player, and although fencing outside of college is a very individual sport, I always loved seeing a huge crowd cheering for the team. UC San Diego really taught me what it meant to be on a team. On the strip, I ravish in the moment of a sea of blue cheering me on for another touch, using their energy to push myself to keep going. My teammates always joke that no matter where you are in the arena, you’ll know when I get a touch because I scream so loudly! Off the strip, I channel that drive onto my teammates. Whether it be cheering, giving them a shoulder to lean on, or even coaching them from the sidelines, I always try to be in the moment with my team as much as I am when on the strip. I picked this photo because I think it encapsulates all of those essences; that feeling of getting a touch, whether it be yourself or your teammates. If there’s a reason to shout, you know I’ll be there!

4. Changing Uniforms

What many people in the fencing community don’t know about me, is that I happen to be a certified fencing referee. In order to play the game, you need to know the game, and what better way than being the one who calls the rules? I started refereeing sometime in 2014-15 after I had my scoliosis correction surgery and was benched for a good while. Still wanting to be in touch with the fencing world, I started to really learn the technicalities that made fencing so interesting to me. Coming to UC San Diego, I was able to help the team by volunteering my time refereeing for events such as BladeRunner, one of the biggest regional tournaments in Southern California. Because of that, my refereeing career has expanded beyond SoCal and I’ve been given opportunities to referee national tournaments and other big events with the vast network of UC San Diego’s fencing team. I picked this image because a lot of people think fencing referees are mean and don’t know how to loosen up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! We are very fun and loving creatures who know how to have a good time. Just be careful who you’re yelling at next time or else you might get a card in your face!

5. My Toughest Opponent

No matter how much you bond with your teammates or how many lessons you get with the coach, fencing is a duel. One versus the other, but ultimately only you create your victories. You need to have confidence in everything you do; in your hand, in your legs, and in your mind. I picked this picture because the toughest opponent in fencing isn’t the one in front of you or even the referee - it's yourself. Fencing is a mental game just as much as it is a physical one. That’s what’s so unique about the sport and why I fell in love with it. We often say that fencing is like chess, you need to read your opponent's moves and create your own actions. Fencing is a huge mind game and there are so many facets you have to take into account, all within a fraction of a second. You have to predict what’s going to happen and outwit your opponent. Because of the nature of it all, no two touches are quite the same. You are constantly changing your tactics, reading your opponent, and seizing on the right opportunity with the right action. It’s a challenge I always have to face, which makes me want to win even more.

Stay tuned for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Below are previous “Fab Five” collections: 

• Zeinab Torabi (women's track and field)
• Isabel Lavrov (softball)
• Cameron Leonard (baseball)
• Neil Tengbumroong (tennis)
• Sarah Proctor (rowing)
   

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide more than 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. In addition, 83 Tritons have been named Academic All-Americans, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.