kristen shafer

Kristen Shafer honors deceased friend by keeping her promise to fence

Daily Emerald, Fencing, Stories & Features, University of Oregon

Everyone has different reasons for joining club fencing. Some got into it by chance, some through a friend. Kristen Shafer, however, had very different reasons for fencing.

Because two years ago, Shafer watched the fencing trials in the London Olympics and thought: “I want to try that.”

Because deep down she wanted to be like the Olympians she had watched that day — even though she had never even held a sword.

Because she doesn’t break promises.

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Club fencing’s Jared Gruen is eager to improve

Daily Emerald, Fencing, Stories & Features, University of Oregon

All Jared Gruen planned to do was watch. He never thought he’d actually put on the uniform.

Two months ago, the UO senior came to club a fencing practice to visit his long-time friend, team coordinator Holly Bishop, along with his girlfriend Kristen Shafer, who had joined the team in the fall.

“He came to practice one day, and I was like, ‘Jared, go put on a uniform,’” Shafer said.

Initially Gruen resisted.

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