Fencing: a battle between two athletes, striving to dominate one another with swords. Squash: a competition between two athletes, each attempting to best the other in the pursuit of a ball.

Despite differences between the two sports, both overcome a lack of resources and have gained popularity.

Squash coach Steve Lantos said that the squash teams will have practice at the new sports facilities in the Windsor school. According to Lantos, the high school used to have a squash court.

“After the renovation came about, we pleaded to have it maintained, but no one used it,” Lantos said. “It was considered empty space and it was bulldozed.”

Lantos explained that he ran squash as a club until now, but he noticed that there were more people interested in the sport, so he decided to form a team this year.

Fencing coach Cesar Morales said that there was unexpected popularity for the sport of fencing.

“We were expecting between 20 to 24, and then when we opened registration, we had 34,” Morales said. “Then three days later we had 47, and now we have a little bit over 50.

Morales added that the fencing team is made up mostly of inexperienced athletes, while Lantos described that the squash team is about evenly split in terms of experienced and inexperienced athletes.

“There are kids who I think I know are beginners who can pick it up pretty quickly and fare well this first year,” Lantos said.

According to junior Nicholas Hur, he was taught how to fence in middle school by his art teacher. Junior Jake Sternlicht said that he played squash when he was younger, but stopped because of a lack of facilities.

Hur said that he is doing fencing this year because his parents had let him know that the sport was offered at the high school.

“I’ve always liked it, and I also have a few friends doing it with me,” Hur said. “I also liked the thrill and realism of it; not at all like the movies.”

Sternlicht said he looks forward to being able to play after a long time. He also explained the expected skill level of squash players.

“I think that there will be a lot of experienced people, and a lot of people who just want to learn the sport and have a good time,” Sternlicht said. “It’s really fun. It’s great exercise, and now I have a place to play.”

According to Lantos, there are various benefits of squash to one’s character.

“It’s a crazy game to get addicted to, and people of all ages play it,” Lantos said. “I think it teaches a lot of life lessons about athleticism, about competition and about sportsmanship, and I would like to share that with our students.”

Morales said that the fencing team will be successful in the near future.

“I think that we will get the state championship in two years.”