'I've always been into the medieval thing since I was younger and I think I Googled fencing and found this club and have been doing it ever since," says 17-year-old Jeff Cotter from Raleigh during a fencing lesson at NBS Gym in Raleigh. Cotter, who does not play any other sports competitively, says, "You have to stay in shape for the physical part, but it's also a mental game and after school and stuff I'm always half brain dead. It's basically a mental chess, sort of, so you have to really be thinking to be a good fencer."

Cotter, who started fencing more than three years ago, practices three to four times a week and also takes a private lesson as part of honing his skills. The rising high school senior competes regionally and nationally as part of the Raleigh Fencers Club.

Cotter has even gotten his mom involved, and the two take lessons together. When asked what it's like to fence with his mom, he replies, "She's OK. She's just starting out so she's still getting the hang of it. Some people would think that you don't want your parent to get better than you, but I help her out and I think it's pretty cool."

To learn more about the club visit www.nbsgym.com/fencing.html.

Audio: Jeff Cotter, 17, speaks about what drew him to the sport of fencing.