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Making their mark in Beijing

By Lizzy Nielsen | Elizabeth.nielsen@am-ny.com

5:54 PM EDT, July 24, 2008

You could cut the tension in the Manhattan Fencing Center with a saber.

U.S. Olympic contender Tim Morehouse steps back to begin his practice bout against a member of the Ukrainian National Team. The round begins with a flurry of sword-on-sword clanging, shuffling and squeaking feet. The two men lunge back and forth, desperate to get that touch. Then, the piercing alarm of the score box sounds and Morehouse lets out a booming victory yelp.

"We're not afraid to go after each other in practice," said the 29-year-old Bronx resident, who is "excited' about his first Olympic competiion.

With just about two weeks until the Summer Olympics begin in China, the mood among these athletes is all business. Unlike amNewYork's last visit in February when there was still time for gags and laughs, now it's 'go' time.

Five of the 15-member U.S. Olympic team, which includes foil, epee and saber contenders, fence at this center located on W. 39th Street in the Garment District.

Fencers come from across the nation to train here with hopes of achieving the dream that Morehouse, Jason Rogers, Keeth Smart and James Williams will be living next month. Accomplishing this goal, however, was no cakewalk.

"We train five days a week, which includes bouts, footwork and conditioning. Four of those are very intense and the fifth is a little easier," Morehouse says.

The entire, four-member men's saber team was selected from a group of fencers who train at this center. They've been working out together for months, so there's already an air of camaraderie.

"It's been a huge benefit to me for us to be here, under the same roof, training together. That's what the Europeans, teams we'll be competing against are doing. They have centralized programs in the big cities. They train and travel together, and to have that vibe has been beneficial to us," said Rogers, 25, who moved from L.A. to New York to train.

Dagmara Wozniak, an alternate who will only compete if a team member is unable to participate, is "looking forward to seeing the atmosphere, seeing the new environment, so my goal in 2012 is to be in the individual tournament and go in and not be nervous."

Having placed first and swept the medals at the 2008 Pan American Zonal Championships in Mexico a few weeks ago, the team is poised to do well in Beijing.

The US did not medal in fencing at the 2004 Athens Games.

"Our goal is to redeem ourselves from the last games and win a medal in the team event. I'm looking forward to it," Smart said.