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02/23/2022 11:00 PMRyan DeVaux could have tried any sport while growing up in North Haven, but in the end, he decided to test his mettle in fencing. Ryan’s skills on the strip and passion for the sport have flourished over the years, helping him become a key senior for the North Haven boys’ fencing team.
Ryan started participating in fencing at Silver City Fencing Club in Wallingford when was eight years old. At the time, Ryan was coached by Jim Harris, the current head coach of the North Haven fencing program. Ryan also took classes with Francesco Spirili, a former member of the team.
Ryan competed at Silver City from age eight to his freshman year at North Haven. Ryan says that his coaches and the friends he made while fencing helped him get over his early nerves in the sport.
“One of the hardest parts of the sport is getting over those initial humps,” says Ryan. “It can be very worrying when you step up on the strip, look across from you, and realize that you and your opponent’s goal is to stab each other. Getting over those initial nerves can really help.”
Ryan has competed in foil from the outset of his fencing career. Ryan likes how versatility is an essential component of succeeding as a foil fencer. When he steps on the strip, Ryan reads his opponent and tries to find the best way to approach.
“There’s an ebb and flow to it. You want to have as much control over yourself and your opponent as possible. You have to create opportunities for yourself,” Ryan says. “You and your opponent are playing this game of, ‘Who wants to do what?’ Whether they’re defensive or aggressive, you need to be like a Swiss Army knife. You need to take what you know and what you’ve learned and adapt to the situation.”
As a freshman, Ryan joined the North Haven fencing program and saw immediate varsity time. There were some growing pains as Ryan was facing a new level of competition and had to adjust. While his first year of high school fencing was difficult at times, Ryan felt glad to have stuck with the sport.
At the end of his freshman season, Ryan competed at the Connecticut Novice State Tournament and finished in second place for boys’ foil division. Ryan says that looking around the gym during that final match is one of his favorite memories as a North Haven fencer.
“There was a moment in the finals when I was looking at the gym. I could see the bleachers split in half,” says Ryan. “I had family members and other varsity fencers, people I had known for years and people I had known for months. They were screaming until their throats gave out. This is the team. This is who we are.”
Now in his senior year, Ryan feels much more confident in his fencing skills and is always eager for another opportunity to compete. Ryan has learned a lot while gaining more experience through the years. Along with his new level of confidence, Ryan has realized how to bounce back and pick himself up after a loss.
“The first thing I learned was that I had to keep a clear head. I think I only got good at that around my junior year. You have to be able to take a loss and not let it affect the next time you get on the strip,” Ryan says. “There’s always opportunities for you to come back and better ways to train yourself. Being ready, prepared, and being not scared has been my biggest growth.”
After working with Ryan at Silver City, Coach Harris is now doing so again in the North Haven fencing program. Harris says Ryan has shown tremendous growth this winter and is having a spectacular senior season. Ryan has a record of 26-5 while fencing foil for the Nighthawks.
“Ryan is one of the most passionate and enthusiastic fencers on our team. He is a true No. 1 fencer on this squad, and he loves being put in pressure situations,” says Harris. “He’s so good and so consistent that at times I almost take him for granted. He’s been our MVP all season.”
Ryan will be competing in the Varsity State Tournament in early March. He says the expectations are high for both himself and the team. After being unable to participate in states since his freshman year, it’s a competition that Ryan will never forget.
As he walks through the halls of North Haven High School, Ryan sees the trophy cases and numerous awards won by the fencing teams of years past. Ryan wants to add on to the legacy of the North Haven fencing program, and he’s hoping that he accomplished that goal during the past four years.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have been on the team in the past. There’s a real sense of pride. Every time I walk past the trophy case and see all the names, the antique swords we have—to call myself a fencer is to call myself a part of it,” Ryan says. “It’s being a part of the legacy. It’s a duty. You have to build on it. We have to show that we are what we are on the case every time we get on the strip. There’s an undeniable passion.”