It was 1976, an Olympic year, but Rod Meagher started fencing for a different kind of drama.

The Green Island native was getting ready for a part in "Romeo and Juliet."

Now he's into competition and comedy — basically a steady dose of boisterous, G-rated trash talk. He often holds court at Beaches Sabre Club in downtown Troy. He compares the art of fencing — particularly his style of saber (or sabre, if you prefer) — to being a high school linebacker back in the day.

"You have to be aggressive," Meagher said. "And you have to figure out strategy, what you want to do, and try to decipher what your opponent is trying to do."

The sport has taken Meagher all the way to Australia for a prestigious international competition nine years ago. He still gets choked up talking about how the community raised funds to help him get Down Under.

Now he's giving back regularly at practices. And he also has coached at RPI.

Clubs like Beaches or Schenectady's Capital District Fencing School — along with on-campus programs at RPI and the University at Albany — may be in line for a boost in interest. It comes from grassroots success and international intrigue.

Recent Niskayuna High graduate Jackie Litynski is headed to the University of North Carolina to begin college and a fencing career in the footsteps of her sister, Gillian, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference's best fencer last year. Yes, there are fencing scholarships, which are more prevalent across the country for women.

Jackie has been watching some Olympics coverage. She has noticed more commercials and preview segments on the television and online streams.

Some noteworthy interest has come from 20-year-old New Jersey native Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American sabre fencer who just became the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab in the Olympics while representing the U.S.

Two American men have won two fencing medals in Rio. One of them, Daryl Homer, talked openly about trying to raise the visibility of the sport.

Locally, former Beaches student Jeff Spear (Wynantskill) was part of the U.S. team in the 2012 Olympics.

Beaches owner Carolyn Washburn, a former Canadian national-team member, is a little skeptical about how much impact Olympics representation can have. She anticipated more than one curious customer after some solid local publicity about Spear's trip to London. Alas, she's seen some recent attendance bumps thanks to online marketplace specials (Groupon).

That's how David Karasz found the sport. The recent Niskayuna grad didn't know his classmate, the younger Litynski, but he was intrigued by the sport after seeing it on television as a little kid. He had to squash his parents' concerns about getting hurt.

That didn't take long.

"What it is, really, is a physical game of chess," he said. "It's more about strategy and tactics than it is anything like getting hurt."

He showed up in a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. The protective jackets and mask, plus weaponry, all can be found on-site. Karasz said it didn't take him too long to decide it was worth investing in more sport-specific tennis shoes, which are light at the toes and thick at the heel.

After starting last year, he's already been to a national tournament in Baltimore; he plans on fencing at some level at Cornell.

While there are three types of fencing (epee, foil, sabre), the last one is good for newcomers, says Washburn, because it's a faster and less technical style.

"It's for people who aren't really patient," she says with a laugh. "It's physical, and the attacker has the advantage."

More Information Get in the game Want to try fencing? Here are some places to get started: Beaches Sabre Club (Troy): 518-273-7466 Capital District Fencing School (Schenectady): 518-248-5002 About this series You can try many of the games you see in Rio right here in the Capital Region. "Olympic Trials" offers a look at the communities enjoying these sports closer to home. See More Collapse

At a recent practice, on a muggy night, it's a particularly sweat-inducing workout while in a second-floor office space. Litynski, Meagher and about 10 others took turns squaring off. New students also quickly learn how to judge.

Washburn notes that it's a "physically deceptive sport." Besides the obvious hand-eye coordination — learning to prod your opponent — there are quick-burst movements and balance — and, of course, plenty of drama.

Jason Franchuk is a freelance writer.