Amanda Sirico (Notre Dame, Women’s Epee), Three-time First-Team All-American and 2018 Senior World Team Champion

Graduate Student

My original plan was to graduate and to train to hopefully qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but I had surgery on my right arm that took me out of many of the competitions leading up to the season, so I had to make the tough decision to change these plans. I was ineligible my first year of college due to some difficulties with my high school's eligibility, so I had to work hard to earn my last season, which I decided to use this year. Having the ability to compete for my Notre Dame family one more time lessened the blow of not being able to pursue the Olympics, but it was ultimately the right decision as I had to have surgery on my other arm just nine months later. Having my ND family there for me during this time was a saving grace and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for the coaches, our trainers, and my teammates for their support.

Although I have qualified for NCAAs in years past, this one was a true test of my resolve and passion for the sport. After two surgeries in the past year, and having to fence NCAAs eight weeks out of surgery last year, I was really hopeful and excited about leaving all that I had left on the strip at my last NCAA competition. Although it has been tough, and we as student-athletes all go through hardships that test our love for our teams, our sport, and especially ourselves, I am trying to remain positive and reflect on all those experiences that have shaped me into the fencer I am today. This reality is sad, but my heart really goes out to those seniors that qualified for the first time and might not get their chance to compete for a title, as well as the freshman that have worked so hard to beat the odds and earn the right to fight for themselves and on behalf of their teammates. I continue to tell myself that this is not the end, and although an indignity has been thrown our way, albeit completely out of anyone's control, do yourself a favor and respond with dignity and be proud of all that you have made for yourself before this point and for your future.

After we lost the title last year, our season started off quite rough and it would do no good to sugar-coat it. We had a really tough time trusting one another and being completely honest with each other and ourselves, and our outlook at the beginning was not good at all. I share this not as a sob story, but because I am truly proud of how this team turned it around. I do have to give credit to my teammates and our coaches for bearing with it and actively working to get this program heading in the right direction. Change did not come naturally and we really had to work through all the uncomfortable parts of learning to be a family again, but our outlook in August 2019 was that we were going to survive the season, whereas in March 2020, we were ready to fight for each other and qualify 12. I can say whole-heartedly that I am excited to see where this team will be in another year, especially considering the ugly, uncomfortable, and challenging work that we have put in for us to be in a position to function as a team and a family.

Growing up around fencing, I was familiar with the concept of having those at your club be your fencing family, but I feel like in the college setting, this is just completely different. Especially with the Notre Dame Fencing Team having 60 teammates, I've never once had to coordinate with that many people to accomplish the same goal. In my experience, I think what makes Notre Dame different is that we don't try to force anyone into a mold. In a family, everyone has their likes and dislikes, their own goals, their own personalities, and what Gia has created is a safe space for everyone to be themselves, to contribute what they can and are willing to give, and to offer them a home away from home. Without this family, I would not have had the support to push myself out of my comfort zone to pursue graphic design, or had a family to push me towards my goals of competing at World Championships. I owe a lot to this team and I whole-heartedly wish that kind of experience on all fencers, no matter the level. Fencing may be an individual sport, but that doesn't mean you have to do it alone.