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01/03/2024 10:37 AMRachel Adams is a determined individual who never takes her foot off the gas when it comes to perfecting a craft or learning a new skill. Naturally, the sport of fencing, more specifically the discipline of foil, was almost tailor-made for her.
The North Haven senior fencer and captain played soccer in her elementary and middle school years, yet upon arriving at high school, she was drawn to the strip after hearing about the Nighthawks’ program from her older sister and her friends. After being part of a successful girls’ foil squad last year and a healthy solo showing at the Individual State Championships, Rachel returns for her final foray with the squad this winter.
“I really love the sport and the community around it,” says Rachel. “My growth within the sport has been really due to the community of the team and their great support. I would not be where I am now without my teammates and my coaches, too. I just love the team and how we give each other so much support through both good and bad days. Fencing stands out to me because of the uniqueness of it. You are out there on the strip alone, but you cannot do it without the whole team cheering you on. You really need everyone with you.”
In terms of pace of the action, foil has found a fond place in Rachel’s heart. It creates a unique balance, and its ever-adjusting nature requires a great exercise of cerebral and physical fitness, while teaching her to lend a listening ear to her colleagues.
“Foil is in the middle of the other two disciplines tempo-wise, because it is not too fast and not too slow,” Rachel says. “You have to have finesse, and really think about your next move before you make it. I like it, though, because it gives me something to practice. Some of our opponents are really good at reading others, and you can get caught mentally. Yet if you are struck, your teammates can help out and give you a new move to try.”
As Rachel has noticed a growth in her physical attributes and overall stature as an athlete, she has gained belief in herself, and each and every move she makes. She reflects that she has exponentially more faith in each move she makes, whether verbal or physical, as a now established competitor and team leader.
“I have gotten a lot stronger physically over the past few years,” says Rachel. “Mentally, I have grown, because in the beginning, I used to have a lot of self doubt in what I was doing. Yet I got more confidence and am more confident now. The growth in confidence was important in making me who I am today.”
An added jab of confidence for Rachel and her squad mates came after the previous postseason with her friends in foil, garnering solid recognition in the conference ranks before she embarked on a solid solo run for the state championships.
“One of my biggest accomplishments was just last season as a whole. I feel I had a great year,” Rachel says. “The girls’ foil team got far in the conference postseason tournament, and I felt I did great in the Individual State Championships. It showed me what I could do and what we could accomplish as a team.”
North Haven fencing Head Coach James Harris proclaims that Rachel’s drive and determination to only perform to her top abilities on a daily basis serves as a major source of inspiration to her teammates.
“Rachel stands out as a leader and as a competitor, due to the high standards she sets for herself. Rachel holds herself to a high standard and works everyday to get better,” says Harris. “She is always one of the hardest workers in practice, and this sets an example for all her teammates to follow, and really sets the tone for her squad. She is also an excellent communicator, and whether she is helping run a practice or competing, she is able to get the entire team going in the same direction. She is a fierce competitor and a fantastic teammate.”
Life as a student-athlete has been a war waged on the mind just as much as on the body, according to Rachel. But still, it is a contest in which she has emerged victorious, with a grander sense of purpose and tact to handle multiple tasks and obligations simultaneously. She also conveys that no matter what adversity each day could potentially throw your way, you have to counter it with swift and consistent determination.
“Being a student and athlete is a lot of mental work, I have learned,” says Rachel. “You are juggling different things at the same time, such as schoolwork and practices. But it has taught me how to really focus and prioritize things. I also learned the importance of not giving up when you are faced with setbacks. You have to know you have bad days, but it will be okay. When I was learning fencing in the beginning, it was really hard, but I am so glad I stuck it out and stayed with the sport.”