May Montenegro & Rayd Orozco: Two Paths diverging on one mat

If you ask an athlete why they took up their sport, you will get different answers, varying from pursuing their passion to getting a scholarship to their dream school. But for May Montenegro and Raymond Victoria Orozco, their paths to fencing were paved by different and unlikely situations.

“When I was in third year high school, nakita ako ng ate ko na nasa bahay lang so sinabi niya ‘inenroll kita sa fencing’,” Montenegro says, adding that her sister was the one doing fencing first.

Initially, fencing was supposed to be another activity for her to get through the summer. During her junior year in high school, she wasn’t as dedicated as she is now, sometimes skipping her weekly training. Yet as a senior in high school, she suddenly became more dedicated, seeing how fencing would be helpful in the future.

“Nakita ko yung importance ng fencing sa scholarship,” the DLSU sophomore adds, “kasi yung coach ko at that time, who was also the coach of UE told me that fencing isn’t a common sport unlike basketball or volleyball and sa fencing, it’s much easier to earn a scholarship.”

This perspective is something she carries on to this day, as she values both fencing and the education she has received because of it. She is currently taking up marketing, a course she feels will help her more in the future.

“I’m planning to take masters kasi sayang, may opportunity to study and to give honor and give back to your alma mater,” she adds.

On the other hand, Orozco discovered fencing in a different manner. “There was this urge in me to actually have a sport,” Orozco, the team captain of the Green Fencers shares. “Thankfully, the OSD (Office of Sports Development) has given me the opportunity to actually have a sport.”

That sport turned out to be fencing, a relatively new sport to him when he entered college. Currently in his third year taking up Philippine Mass Media, things have come full circle for the former multisport athlete in high school, who has emerged as the Green Fencer’s team captain for this season.

“Actually, I was really shocked when I was selected as team captain because ever since I used to be in sports, I was really focused on the sport itself, just having the commitment to play and do my best as a player,” says Orozco.

Team Captains aren’t necessarily the most skilled players on their team, but they’re definitely the best team players. As the most vocal teammates, they support the players on the court even when they themselves aren’t on it. As one of the team’s veterans, they push the younger players, giving them both guidance and support. Yet even if fencing is known as an individual sport, Orozco believes that his role is to help his teammates bring glory to the school.

“I have my responsibilities and I have to guide my teammates. Pero right now, I think macocontribute ko as team captain is hindi ko sila masusuportahan sa fencing mismo inside pero I’ll provide moral support,” says the confident team captain who hopes his team can contribute in defending the UAAP General Championship.

Fencing is more than beating your opponent with weapons, with these two athletes noting that intangibles also play a crucial part. For Montenegro, it’s being a motivator to her younger teammates, while Orozco believes heart separates the good fencers from the great ones.

“Given I have more experience, I think it’s my job to help out those who are new and show them that we can compete,” says the confident Lady Fencer.

“Even if you’re really good at fencing, if you don’t have the heart like you’re nervous, you tend to lose,” the Green Fencer adds. “If you play the way you train, you’ll succeed. It all depends on the player.”