His presence moved the fencing team out of the sidelines, as he was not only an accomplished football and basketball player but also within two years one of the most accomplished fencers in the state. The fencing coach found him easy to train and spent extensive hours with his star pupil. Fencing appealed to him because it was all on him -- he didn't have to rely on teammates like he had to in other sports. He is the first child of a mechanic who had been high school quarterback, and a secretary at the mayor's office.
He placed second in epee at the state tournament his senior year, and went to the state university expecting to continue his success. However, he found it difficult to adjust to the higher level of competition not only in fencing but also in the classroom, and by winter of his freshman year has all but quit the fencing team and is in danger of flunking out. He returns to the high school team to "give a few pointers," but winds up bullying the team, including the current year's captain, until he is trounced by the coach.
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