Fueling a Fire for Fencing

Ryanne Leslie '23 USA Fencing High School All-American, All-Academic First Team

November 19, 2021

Flying around the world to pursue her passion for fencing that she discovered at the age of 11, Ryanne Leslie ignited our attention for this week's #FiredUpFriday. Currently competing in Budapest for an Under 17 World Cup Fencing Competition, Ryanne was selected to compete with Team USA on the Under 17 and Under 20 international circuits and is currently ranked nationally as the #1 USA Women's Foil Fencer for her age group (and #6 for women under 20). And the fired-up phenomenon goes on: she was named the USA Fencing High School All-American, All-Academic First Team (twice!), and won a bronze medal at the USA Fencing Junior Olympics this past summer. Ryanne says, "Fencing will remain a lifelong passion for me. I'm hoping to take my fencing career to the next level while competing in college and to maybe make an Olympic team someday." Watch out world, Ryanne has definitely "kindled her own fire" and we'll be en garde to watch her take it on!

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Our 2021-22 social media campaign, Fired Up Fridays, pays tribute to the message engraved in the stone mantelpiece above the fireplace in the Henry Library that reads: “Kyndle yr awne ffyre” (Kindle Your Own Fire). Each Friday we will shine a light on members of the school community whose passion runs deep for a particular interest, activity, class, or hobby. #FiredUpFridays posts on Insta and Facebook, so be sure to follow along!