She stands in her en garde starting position, eyeing her opponent. Calmly, she waits for the lunge of her opponent. At only 5’1, height is not on her side but skill is.

Sophomore Loralyn Sanders has been fencing for about eight years now, since she was 7 and a half years old. What started as a sarcastic response to her parents has become a full-time hobby.

“I chose fencing because I didn’t want to play softball and during the off season I didn’t want to play basketball, so my parents were like ‘What do you want to do?,’” Sanders said. “It was kind of sarcastically ‘I want to do sword fighting’ and I went and I tried it and I actually really liked it.”

Three days a week Sanders spends the day at the Fencing Institute of Texas practicing for two hours. On days she does not spend at the institute, she spends working out for two hours at the Flower Mound Community Activity Center.

“I practice Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays for two hours each and then I go to the gym every day I don’t practice for two hours,” Sanders said. “I have to sacrifice a social life because I’m either cross training or working out two hours a night then I have to go home and do my homework. I don’t have much time to hang out with my friends.”

Ranking sixth place at the North American Cup at only 10 years old has been Sanders’ biggest accomplishment.

“I won a bunch of tournaments, and I’ve gotten a patch for being sixth in the United States for ranking that high,” Sanders said. “I remember [that moment] the most; I was proud of that.”

The person she admires the most is olympian Mona Shaito. Sanders trained with Shaito until she left for college.

“I got to [train] with her and I got to know her and she was always willing to help me,” Sanders said. “[Mona] went to my club before she went to college so I really looked up at her.”

Due to the closeness of the sport, Sanders has developed many friendships and the numerous practices have only made her relationships stronger.

“Since we’ve known each other for years, our relationship has developed and strengthened through fencing,” Low said. “Cheering each other on, comforting during time of defeat, and listening to hour long stories has ultimately made us such good friends. To me, Loralyn is not only a teammate, but she is also a friend.”

Fellow fencer Olivia Park has known Sanders since 2015. Throughout the years Park has noticed the defensive style Sanders has adopted.

“In fencing she is a very semi-aggressive person,” Park said. “Loralyn doesn’t attack but when someone attacks her, she defends herself and quickly attacks back.”

In the near future Sanders wants to go into college to study architecture. She plans on using her experiences to improve and carry her fencing in her adulthood.

“I think [fencing is] worth it, it’ll help me get into college, hopefully get a scholarships,” Sanders said. “[Fencing has taught] me a lot about hard work and putting together plans and working out. It has also [helped] me stay healthy. It’s something I love to do.”