By NATALIE EDWARDS Special to the Daily Press
LOS ANGELES Emma Peterson is used to missing stretches of days at Harvard-Westlake Middle School, doing her homework on the floors of airports, and sacrificing organized retreats and camping trips for her sport. The blond hair, pale blue eyed 14 year old travels to around 10 competitions per year, lugging with her bags of weaponry and protective gear, and usually wins medals.
Peterson is the first ranked epee fencer in the United States for her age division. Epee fencing is freestyle fencing; and the epee is a descendant of the dueling sword, a heavy, thick blade with a larger guard to protect the hands. Epee can be distinguished from the
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 3, 2008. Read the original PDF.