Northwestern University Athletics
Getting to Know: Sarit Kapon
10/14/2016 10:27:00 AM | Women's Fencing
As part of its monthly Getting to Know feature with members of the Northwestern fencing team, NUsports.com caught up with Sarit Kapon. She enters her senior season with a 28-2 record at Northwestern.
NUsports.com: Why did you choose Northwestern?
Sarit Kapon: "I chose Northwestern because of its high caliber of education and its wide array of different fields of studies. I also really liked that athletics was a big part of the university and how much the athletics department helps the athletes."
How did you get into fencing?
"When I was 11, my brother had been fencing for a few years and, although I was playing some other sports at the time, my parents thought that I should try fencing. I looked up to my older brother a lot back then, so usually whatever he did, I wanted to do."
What do you love most about the sport?
"I love that fencing is mostly mental. It's taught me how to discipline myself as well as how to recover and learn from losses and failures. Before I came to college, my coach always told me that fencing is like a game of chess. Granted, I have no idea how to play chess but I understood the lesson. Fencing has taught me not only how to think ahead and strategically, but also how to constructively analyze failures."
What, if any, were some of the differences you noticed between fencing for your high school and fencing for your club?
"I only fenced for my high school for the first two years. Fencing for my high school was less competitive compared to fencing for my club. Fencing for my club was more challenging and helped me develop as a fencer."
You have only lost twice in your college career. What has allowed you to be so consistent in your performance?
"I try to remember to just do my best and never forget that I'll win some bouts and lose others."
What is your favorite memory so far with the team?
"I don't really have just one favorite memory with the team. We have a lot of team and squad bonding and I think that just hanging out with my teammates is fun. It's really hard to choose just one moment or time period because there have been so many great memories."
What are your goals for your senior season?
"My goal for my senior season is to be fully recovered enough to fence to the best of my ability again. After my surgery last year, I did not participate in any competition and I wished I had traveled more with the team."
What do you think is the best part of living in Evanston?
"The best part of living in Evanston is the convenience to downtown Evanston. I also really enjoy living near Lake Michigan and having a gorgeous view of Chicago."
What is your major and why?
"I am a political science and psychology double major. I chose psychology at first because I was interested in learning more about the brain and people. But after going through all my classes so far, it has taught me so much more than that. I have learned more about myself and how to be a more well-rounded, thoughtful person and how to see things from other people's perspectives. Aside from all that, the professors are amazing and want you to take away something more than just reading a textbook. I chose political science because my father would always watch the news and talk about the Middle East conflict, since he's from Israel. I didn't understand a lot of the time what was happening so I chose to take political science, specifically foreign policy/international based classes. All the reading can also help with analytical skills and understanding a situation from all points of view."
What are your career/future plans?
"Hopefully, I will move to New York City after Northwestern. A few of my family members including my brother live there and I want to be closer to home. I want to work in sports and/or entertainment marketing, possibly as a marketing analyst."
NUsports.com: Why did you choose Northwestern?
Sarit Kapon: "I chose Northwestern because of its high caliber of education and its wide array of different fields of studies. I also really liked that athletics was a big part of the university and how much the athletics department helps the athletes."
How did you get into fencing?
"When I was 11, my brother had been fencing for a few years and, although I was playing some other sports at the time, my parents thought that I should try fencing. I looked up to my older brother a lot back then, so usually whatever he did, I wanted to do."
What do you love most about the sport?
"I love that fencing is mostly mental. It's taught me how to discipline myself as well as how to recover and learn from losses and failures. Before I came to college, my coach always told me that fencing is like a game of chess. Granted, I have no idea how to play chess but I understood the lesson. Fencing has taught me not only how to think ahead and strategically, but also how to constructively analyze failures."
What, if any, were some of the differences you noticed between fencing for your high school and fencing for your club?
"I only fenced for my high school for the first two years. Fencing for my high school was less competitive compared to fencing for my club. Fencing for my club was more challenging and helped me develop as a fencer."
You have only lost twice in your college career. What has allowed you to be so consistent in your performance?
"I try to remember to just do my best and never forget that I'll win some bouts and lose others."
What is your favorite memory so far with the team?
"I don't really have just one favorite memory with the team. We have a lot of team and squad bonding and I think that just hanging out with my teammates is fun. It's really hard to choose just one moment or time period because there have been so many great memories."
What are your goals for your senior season?
"My goal for my senior season is to be fully recovered enough to fence to the best of my ability again. After my surgery last year, I did not participate in any competition and I wished I had traveled more with the team."
What do you think is the best part of living in Evanston?
"The best part of living in Evanston is the convenience to downtown Evanston. I also really enjoy living near Lake Michigan and having a gorgeous view of Chicago."
What is your major and why?
"I am a political science and psychology double major. I chose psychology at first because I was interested in learning more about the brain and people. But after going through all my classes so far, it has taught me so much more than that. I have learned more about myself and how to be a more well-rounded, thoughtful person and how to see things from other people's perspectives. Aside from all that, the professors are amazing and want you to take away something more than just reading a textbook. I chose political science because my father would always watch the news and talk about the Middle East conflict, since he's from Israel. I didn't understand a lot of the time what was happening so I chose to take political science, specifically foreign policy/international based classes. All the reading can also help with analytical skills and understanding a situation from all points of view."
What are your career/future plans?
"Hopefully, I will move to New York City after Northwestern. A few of my family members including my brother live there and I want to be closer to home. I want to work in sports and/or entertainment marketing, possibly as a marketing analyst."
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
Foil
/ Women's FencingThis is Northwestern Athletics | 2024-25 Recap
Tuesday, August 19
David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program - 2025 Video
Tuesday, August 19
The Foundation: Northwestern Fencing
Wednesday, March 19
Laurie Schiller Full Speech | 2022 Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
Monday, September 19
