$4 million fencing center lauded at opening

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The U.S. Olympic sports community Monday hailed the opening of a $4 million training and competition center for fencing in San Antonio.

“This is by far one of the best fencing facilities I've seen in the United States,” said Kelley Hurley, a Warren High School graduate and a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that won a bronze medal.

The 18,000-square foot facility is located on the campus of St. Anthony Catholic High School.

It was built as a joint project with backing from Bexar County and the University of the Incarnate Word, which owns the high school.

Known as the UIW Brainpower Center for Fencing and International Sports, it will serve as home for a university fencing team and also for UIW-affiliated high school and local club teams.

Fencing is considered a non-traditional sport in Texas, but it is one that UIW president Louis Agnese said he is happy to offer in his NCAA Division I lineup.

Olympic fencing bronze medal winners Kelley and Courtney Hurley, provide a fencing demonstration during the grand opening celebration for the University of the Incarnate Word's Brain Power Center for Fencing and International Sports on Monday May 13, 2013. The 18,000 square-foot facility includes eight fencing strips, practice strips and a gymnasium that can be used for basketball and volleyball. There is also an international sports area for badminton and table tennis along with an armory. UIW is hoping to develop an NCAA fencing program and provide facilities for a U.S Fencing Association club. The facility will also serve as a training facility for fencing athletes and host competitions. less Olympic fencing bronze medal winners Kelley and Courtney Hurley, provide a fencing demonstration during the grand opening celebration for the University of the Incarnate Word's Brain Power Center for Fencing ... more Photo: Helen L. Montoya, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Helen L. Montoya, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close $4 million fencing center lauded at opening 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“This facility is symbolic of all of what we're trying to do for young people,” Agnese told supporters at a grand opening ceremony. “We are very happy to have fencing here.

“... It's great for the mind. It's great for the coordination. We wanted our kids to be exposed to it.”

Adding Olympic sports has been a trend at UIW. Within the last 11 years, the athletic department has initiated synchronized swimming, swimming and now fencing.

Rob Stull, the chief executive officer at USA Pentathlon, said he attended the fencing facility's grand opening to applaud the community's investment in the Olympic movement.

A former Olympian in fencing and modern pentathlon, Stull said the impending start of a scholarship fencing program at UIW comes at a time when many colleges and universities are slashing non-revenue sports.

“I just think it's wonderful to see a college stepping up on the Olympic program and supporting sports at this level,” Stull said. “We in the sporting community need to acknowledge that, and we need to support that.”

The facility is one of 13 amateur sports projects backed by the 2008 Bexar County venue tax election.

Agnese said the university put up $2 million to match $2 million that came from the county.

Additionally, he said it will cost UIW about $1 million a year to run the facility. Agnese said it's a cost that he hopes to cover by staging competitions.