Bell’s hoping change will be for better
Fencer seeks switch for second year of scholarship
FENCING prospect Jack Bell hopes a change of scene this autumn can help develop his swordsmanship skills, writes TONY HODGSON.
The 19-year-old from Nuns Moor, Newcastle, saw the first year of his four-year sports scholarship at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, New York, cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.
All being well Bell, a member of the Durham-based Laszlo’s Fencing Club, plans to return to the United States in Septemver.
However, it may not be to Sacred Heart - with the talented teenager eyeing up a switch to St John’s School in Queens.
Bell - back at home while the pandemic plays out - explained: “It has been a crazy first year with everything that has been going on. I settled in well at Sacred Heart after taking a few weeks to acclimatise and everyone was extremely welcoming.
“I did enjoy the experience and certainly do not regret going there but I just gained the feeling the fencing set-up was not as good as I had expected it to be.
“I feel a switch would help my fencing progress quicker so I have applied to move to St John’s.
“There is a really strong fencing team at St John’s, including some who have competed at the Olympics.
“I should find out next month if I have been accepted but if not I will return to Sacred Heart and just try to do my best there.”
During his spell in the States Bell has tested himself against some of the country’s top young swordsmen.
He added: “There is a league system and if you win enough of your bouts you go through to the Conference Championships.
“We competed in the North East Conference League and it was a good experience taking on some really talented fencers.”
Bell was crowned under-18 boys’ epee champion at the British Youth Championships at Sheffield’s English Institute for Sport in 2018.
He secured his scholarship after making friends with members of the USA national team while competing against them on the international stage.
He added: “They reckoned I should attend their training camp and when I did the coaches suggested I should do the USA National Championships so I could be scouted by college coaches for a potential scholarship deal.
“I started college on August 22 last year but I entered the USA 30 days earlier so I could attend preseason training.”
The youngster took up the sport aged eight and is already a member of the Great Britain Talent Squad.
He is now keeping fit at his Tyneside home ready for a return to his scholarship later this year wherever that may be at.