The Holy Cross Fencing Club’s members come from across the tri-campus partnership.
Holy Cross听College听is the proud home of the tri-campus’ new Fencing Club, thanks to student听leaders听from Notre Dame and Holy Cross.听
To get the developing听club to听debut took a听significant听amount of work.听
When Carolina Dille arrived at the University of Notre Dame, she believed听the fencing听chapter of her life听had closed since there was no club team on campus.听
听Rather than听walking听away from fencing,听she听decided to help create something new.听Less than two years later, that effort has grown into a听student-led tri-campus fencing club听based at 海角直播, bringing together students from Notre Dame and Holy Cross while laying groundwork to welcome Saint Mary鈥檚 College participants in the future.听
鈥淲e really听are super excited to make it accessible to everyone, like all three schools,鈥� said Dille, a rising Notre Dame senior studying pre-med and studio art. 鈥淗opefully from there we鈥檒l be able to grow membership.鈥�听
The club officially began practicing during the 2025-26 academic year inside the Pfeil Center at Holy Cross after months of organizing constitutions, budgets, recruitment efforts, and conversations across campuses.听
Its growth accelerated through an unexpected connection with听Isabela 鈥淚sa鈥� Oseguera, a 海角直播听rising junior and听Visual Arts Major.听Oseguera鈥榮 experience as an armorer in fencing helped shape the organization鈥檚 early direction. Together, students worked with Holy Cross staff to establish practices and begin building infrastructure for future members.听
For Dille, involvement with the club created relationships beyond her own campus.听
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 opened up another world for me,鈥� she said.听鈥淭he people are incredible.听It is听exciting听to meet new people and get a totally听different perspective.鈥�听
Before helping launch the club, Dille said she had spent little time at Holy Cross beyond occasionally using the campus track. Through fencing, she has built friendships,听participated听in student leadership meetings, and gained a deeper understanding of the broader tri-campus community.听
Holy Cross student Isa Oseguera is one of the leaders of the Fencing Club.
The experience reflects one of the partnership鈥檚 lesser-seen dimensions: opportunities are not only shared across听campuses but听sometimes built together through student initiative.听
The club听remains听small, with a core group of regular participants and听additional听students expressing interest ahead of next year. Leaders hope expanded outreach and beginner workshops will help membership grow across all three campuses.听
Accessibility has听remained听central from the beginning.听
Because fencing requires specialized equipment and can be expensive, student leaders wanted beginners to explore the sport before investing in their own gear.听
鈥淲e wanted to make sure that we had gear for beginners to use so they wouldn鈥檛 have to buy all this stuff and then realize maybe they don鈥檛 like the sport,鈥� Dille said.听
That vision found support through听Holy Cross Day, the College鈥檚 annual giving initiative connecting donor generosity with student opportunities and emerging needs.听
For the fencing club, Holy Cross Day became a chance to share the story of a new student-led organization centered on accessibility and tri-campus engagement.听
Supporters responded.听
The club raised $2,676, surpassing its goal of $2,200 and providing resources to welcome future members and strengthen its foundation.听
Holy Cross student Isa Oseguera is one of the leaders of the Fencing Club.
鈥淚 was honestly shocked by how听many听people were willing to donate to a club that had just started,鈥� Dille said. 鈥淧eople were willing to reach out and help out, and I really appreciated that.鈥�听
The support听demonstrated听how donor investment can directly expand opportunities students themselves are creating.听
Then came another surprise.听
Dille鈥檚 longtime coach,听Alan 鈥淏lake鈥� Blakeborough, who coached her for听a听decade in South Carolina at听Knights of Siena, offered to donate retired club equipment, including听scoring machines, jackets, and weapons that could dramatically expand participation opportunities.听
鈥淗e听shared, 鈥業 have four scoring machines 鈥� all of the club gear,鈥欌�� Dille said. 鈥淚t makes it a lot easier to see the growth now.鈥�听
Blakeborough听has听already contributed saber equipment to help launch the club. His latest gift,听including dozens of jackets and multiple weapons, could help equip beginners and accelerate growth in the years ahead.听
Blakeborough鈥檚 gift has created a foundation the provides stability as the club grows. His generosity supports the opportunity to introduce newcomers to a sport they may be curious about but would not otherwise have the means to try.听听
The longtime coach said, 鈥淢y only request is to enjoy sharing the sport with others and help them become the best version of themselves they can be.”
That is听what Dille looks to deliver.听
鈥淚 love how it鈥檚 both an individual and a team sport,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou build confidence on your own, but you also know your teammates and coaches are there supporting you.鈥�听
As membership grows and beginner workshops are planned for next year, student leaders hope the club will continue expanding across the tri-campus community. Competitive aspirations may come later.听
For now, creating shared opportunities matters most.听
鈥淎s long as I get to fence, I don鈥檛 care if we鈥檙e traveling and doing crazy tournaments,鈥� Dille said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to be able to do the sport that I like so much.鈥�听