As they wished

One wanted to play field hockey, but it wasn't offered at the local recreation facility. The other saw the sword fighting scene in The Princess Bride and wanted to do just that.

Now, after numerous competitions and accolades, Anne Kercsmar and Nic Testerman are fencing for Duke, which does not typically attract two of the best fencers in the country.

Both epee fencers, Kercsmar is ranked 14th in the nation and Testerman is 12th. In the world, Kercsmar is 73rd and Testerman is 36th.

With impressive standings, both fencers had their choice of collegiate fencing programs. Testerman, now a sophomore, had to choose between Duke and Notre Dame, which is a fencing powerhouse. The Fighting Irish have taken their nickname literally, recording 25 top-three NCAA finishes, including every year since 1994. Currently unranked, Duke's recent fencing tradition has not been as dominating. In 1996, Jeremy Kahn became Duke's first NCAA championship winner. The women's national prestige dates back a little further to 1989, with Academic All-American Leslie McFarland Farx. Farx, who was a 1996 Olympian, came back to Duke this year as an assistant coach with the epee squad.

A year later, Kercsmar was faced with the same decision: a scholarship at Notre Dame, or no scholarship at Duke. Beguinet was also a main factor in her decision.

Beguinet is in his 19th season as head coach at Duke, after serving as head coach at Lewis & Clark College for eight years. He trained at the National Sports Institute in Paris, receiving his Master of Arms Degree in 1976. During his time at Duke, Beguinet has combined experience with passion for the sport.

"I had heard that he was the kind of coach you'll invite to your wedding," Kercsmar said. "He really cares about you as a person."

For both Testerman and Kercsmar, the academics at Duke were a main selling point. As a National Merit Commended Student, books were certainly key for Kercsmar.

"Anne chose Duke... most of all [because] Duke is an exceptional academic environment," said Kercsmar's mom, Carolyn Kercsmar.

The team dynamics were also important for Kercsmar, who had only fenced as an individual, because her high school, Beachwood High School in Ohio, did not have a team. The Notre Dame team "didn't feel as united" as Duke, which reminded Kercsmar of a family. This family element was similar to Kercsmar's previous fencing experience, which quickly became a family affair when she started around age eight.

While both her parents had participated in athletics in college--her mom was a tennis player and her dad a sailor--neither had been involved in fencing until their daughter began. Carolyn Kercsmar described her daughter's fencing as a "great time," while Kercsmar's dad, Bob, has gotten actively involved in the fencing world, serving as secretary for the Northeast Ohio Division. With this position, Bob Kercsmar ran "zillions of weekend tournaments, [and] traveled with Anne," according to Carolyn Kercsmar.

It was through these tournaments that Kercsmar met Testerman, and got his advice when making her college choice, a choice that was all too familiar for him.

"I told her how much I liked Alex, [but] tried not to influence her too much," Testerman said.

After making the same decision as Testerman, Kercsmar now hopes to follow him in leading the Duke squad. Last year Testerman posted the best record on the team with 39 wins and five loses. At nationals, he placed 18th, the highest finish for a Blue Devil.

"I want to go to NCAAs and continually improve," Kercsmar said.

According to Beguinet, both Testerman and Kercsmar will lead the team in this upcoming season.

"The women's epee is going to be great [with Anne]," Beguinet said.

Without the lights of Hollywood like those in the well-orchestrated fencing scenes of The Princess Bride, and bearing a sword, rather than a field hockey stick, Testerman and Kercsmar are still set to impress and lead the Duke fencing squad into this season. They may not be Fighting Irish, but the duo is set to show that a devil with a sword is just as tough an opponent.