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Twins Wesley and Jake Weicht (left to right) have differing personalities and fencing styles.

Written By Lisa Breslin

Twin brothers Jake and Wesley Weicht, from Taneytown, started fencing when their parents discovered that they had talent as they sparred with sticks at the annual Renaissance Festival.

Since they were 13, the twins have traveled to the far corners of Maryland for fencing practice and to every part of the nation to compete. They have practiced as much as three hours a day, and over the last seven years have competed in more than 250 matches. Now, at 19, the brothers have garnered more medals than they care to count.

After earning 31st place out of 253 competitors in Division-1 Men’s Epee at The North American Cup tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, in October, Jake now ranks among the top fencers in the country and is eligible for international competition.

Although the twins have bookend boyish looks, their fencing styles, like their personalities, contrast: Jake is more relaxed and relies on sheer force; Wesley appreciates grace and admits that he is much more intense. Jake doesn’t care how he looks. He just wants to get a match point; Wesley often tells himself. “You better look good when you get this point.”

For Jake, fencing is all about speed and physical fortitude; for Wesley, fencing is mental: “like human chess.”

Fencing is a family affair for the twins and their parents, Eddie and Maggie Weicht. They drive to as many tournaments as possible, which sometimes means 18-hour trips, almost nonstop, with their dad, a former truck driver, at the wheel.

Maggie, the boys note, is an “eternal cheerleader” during matches and often ducks behind her hands. She has been known to shout, “Good job, you can pull it out!” long after the match has been lost.

As a tireless coach, Eddie “eggs us on,” said Jake. “He keeps my mental game focused. I have no doubt that many of my wins are because of Dad’s comments.”

The twins, both sophomores at McDaniel College, coach, cajole and chronicle each other’s accomplishments.

“Jake has two really good moves, said Wesley, “the flick, which is a swift whip of the blade; and the flŽche, which is like controlled falling. He covers a lot of distance in a short time. He can be a mile away and his opponents won’t see it coming, and they can’t do anything about it.”

When it comes to his flick, even Jake likes to boast: “No one else can do it; no one can stop it and I Ôgot it’ by accident. One coach wouldn’t teach it to me, so I taught myself, the improper way. Then the coach taught me the right way. Now I do it both ways, and every part of the body is a target for me. Competitors find it incredibly frustrating, especially when I flick them on the back.”

Over their years as fencers,Wesley and Jake credit certain coaches with giving them specific skills:

Bin Lu, the founder of Baltimore Fencing Center, Wesley notes, taught the twins everything they know about technique and form.

John Wittig, who is with the same club, taught them to love fencing as a sport, especially proficiency with a foil.

Their newest coach, Greg Paye, from Maryland Fencing Center, is giving both men a new love for the sport.

“He is teaching us more about how to really apply the various styles we’ve learned,” said Jake. “And he has a real Zen approach. He’s soothing.”

Although Jake and Wesley credit Lu, Wittig and Paye, as well as their parents, for helping them perfect their skills, they contend that each is the other’s ideal coach and confidant.

“We know each other best,” said Wesley. “We calm each other down.”

Jake loves food, so if he gets nervous before a bout, Wesley peppers him with questions about where they will eat afterwards and how he might like his steak.

“Occasionally I have to lay into him,” said Wesley. “In a brotherly way.”

To calm Wesley down, Jake hands him water as an excuse to get within whispering range and then tells him jokes. “Or I will say something irrelevant or random like Ôyou look fat today.’”

“Occasionally,” Jake said , “I will holler ÔGet off your butt and try something. Quit being so cautious.’”

“Jake and Wesley are good kids and they were a pleasure to have as students,” said former coach Bin Lu. “They set a good example for their peers on how to work hard, be respectful, be kind and reflect a good attitude.”

The family’s proudest fencing moment took place in 2007, in Miami, Florida at the Summer Nationals. That summer, they beat the top-seeded junior team from the New York Athletic Club, which is famous for churning out Olympians.

The Weichts’ team was the underdog; seeded low in the tournament. And although the day was long, their proudest moment came in the final bout that the twins will always remember.

“We were down to the last minute of the bout,”said Wesley. “Neither of us was daring. He [is opponent] went for a last touch – a drawn out lunge toward my leg. I stepped in and hit him on the arm. I will never forget that move. If time had slowed down, I would have heard myself saying ÔI can’t believe you just did that! I have this. Oh my God!’”

Jake, Maggie, Eddie, their fencing buddy, Noah Weiner, their coaches and the entire tournament crowd erupted in cheers.

Wesley had not only won the most important point, he also looked good doing it.