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Seniors take a stab at fencing
By amanda tonoli
AUSTINTOWN
2Kathy Durrell, part-time faculty in the department of physics and astronomy at Youngstown State University and fencing instructor, taught the growing class in its fourth session.
“My hopes are for this to grow and expand – maybe even have it on another day of the week,” Durrell said.
This class is new to the center, but as the word gets out about it, the more people drop in.
Jim Henshaw, senior center director, said the class started in an effort to battle one of the biggest challenges seniors face – maintaining their balance.
After doing some reading and taking a few balance classes at the center, Henshaw said he stumbled on an article about fencing.
“It’s balance and cognizance skill; it’s a very, very mental sport – almost like playing chess standing up,” Henshaw said.
The cognizance skill is something senior citizens are at risk to lose as they get older, so fencing takes care of both cognizance and balance, he said.
Henshaw said after learning that YSU had a fencing class for its students, he contacted the department who sent Durell, passionate about the sport, to try out this new adventure.
“It’s lots of fun. Basically it’s the same class I would teach to the 20-year-olds I teach at YSU. We’re just going a little slower,” Durrell said.
Durrell said even though not all of her students at the senior center were in the fittest shape, this class is going to help them become more fit.
YSU nursing student Paige Hawkins joined the class as part of her community clinical for the day.
Hawkins said from a nursing perspective, the class is really beneficial for the seniors.
“It gets their minds moving and bodies moving. It’s great for them,” Hawkins said.
Mary Hanick of Austintown uses crutches and sometimes a wheelchair. By taking this class, Hanick said she hopes to improve her balance.
Not all seniors are in the class for health reasons, however.
“I just like to try new things,” said Mary Pinter, of Youngstown. “You don’t know until you try.”
The fencing class and others like it offered at Austintown Senior Center are free to township residents. Those outside of Austintown can pay an annual fee of $36 to have the same opportunities.
The center is located at 100 Westchester Drive in the township.
Currently classes take place Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the senior center, but will change in January depending on Durrell’s teaching schedule at the university.
Find out more about activities at the center at: http://www.austintownseniorcenter.org/.