March 20, 2009
Each week throughout the season, TarHeelBlue.com will spotlight UNC fencing seniors in the Friday Fencing Feature. Read on for more on Steven Simmons and check back next Friday for a new feature.
Steven Simmons, a senior from Simsbury, Conn., is in his third year on the fencing team and is a member of the men's sabre squad. The oldest of five siblings, he is majoring in psychology at UNC, where he participates in Air Force ROTC and Arnold Air Society.
TarHeelBlue.com interview by Lee Becker, UNC Athletic Communications Student Assistant
TarHeelBlue.com: What's your favorite thing about being a member of the Carolina fencing team?
Steven Simmons: Fencing against some of the best sabre fencers in the country during practice.
THB: What has been your favorite fencing moment at UNC?
Simmons: Fencing Duke at a meet. Usually only, only the two teams and coaches will watch but it seems whenever we fence each other everyone watches.
THB: What's the biggest misconception people have about fencing or something most people don't know about fencing?
Simmons: That there are three different weapons each with their own set of rules.
THB: Who is your favorite Carolina athlete of all time and why?
Simmons: I don't really have favorite athlete but I do admire Dean Smith. He really associated the winning tradition with the Carolina name.
THB: What's the most challenging thing about being a collegiate student-athlete?
Simmons: I would say trying to make up the time you lose practicing and traveling that other students have.
THB: What has been your favorite class at Carolina and why did you like it?
Simmons: Intro to Italian because I remember our instructor Jake really took the time to get to know us and he always asked how fencing was going.
THB: What's your favorite memory of your time as a Carolina student?
Simmons: It's definitely going to the Duke game freshman year. I've never seen so many people as excited as I was about a game of basketball in my life. The Deandome was rocking.
THB: What is your favorite thing about being a student at UNC?
Simmons: The people.
THB: Why did you choose to attend UNC?
Simmons: When I visited, I stayed with another student who lived in Hinton James but I remember the campus being really nice and everyone being polite. I was so enthused I somehow stayed awake during a pretty boring physics class that my host was taking.
THB: What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?
Simmons: Hopefully, I'll still be flying for the Air Force.
THB: How do you stay active in both fencing and ROTC?
Simmons: I try to split time between them. My coaches and the cadre understand I'm involved with both so they try to help me out as much a possible.
THB: What is it like having four younger siblings?
Simmons: It's a mixed bag. It's sometimes tough knowing that I have them all looking up to me but also rewarding when I'm able to help them out with something I've already gone through.
THB: What is the Arnold Air Society and how did you get involved?
Simmons: The Arnold Air Society is a professional, service organization within Air Force ROTC. We volunteer around the community and also develop skills that are useful in ROTC and later on in the Air Force.
