They now number six.

Six Dalhart natives have taken up the sport of fencing, known among laymen as "sword fighting". The fencing bug hit Dalhart a couple years ago, and now two of the six are good enough to compete nationally.

John Miller and Raymond Weld qualified to compete at the United States Fencing Association’s Summer Nationals in Sacramento, Calif. Both Miller and Weld placed well at the Plains Texas Fencing Championship held April 10 in Lubbock.

Weld won the Division III Men’s Epee competition in Lubbock. It was his second tournament win. Miller placed sixth in the Division II Men’s Foil competition.

In fencing, there are three kinds of weapons: foil, epee and saber. Each weapon used has its own scoring.

The foil, which Miller prefers, has a flexible rectangular blade about 35 inches in length. Points are scored when the tip of the blade lands in the torso area of the body.

The epee (pronounced EPP-pay), which Weld prefers, has a stiffer, triangular blade and is basically a dueling sword. Points are scored when the tip hits any part of the body.

Weld, who works as a chiropractor, made a surprising decision not to compete at the summer nationals, which was held earlier this month. Weld not only faced scheduling conflicts, but he preferred to hone his skills another year before making a stab (no pun intended) at the nationals.

Miller, pastor at the Nazarene Church, went to nationals for the sheer experience of it.

"It was a pretty neat experience, a 30 year dream come true," Miller said.

Miller tried to enter the fencing world when he was 18. At the time, it was a very elite sport and he could not get in. When Dr. Weld started fencing at Amarillo College a couple of years ago, Miller started tagging along.

Now, at 51, Miller found himself in the Sacramento Convention Center surrounded by 2,000 other fencers.

Miller qualified to compete on three different levels: Veterans, Division II and Division III. Being short on time and finances, Miller decided to fight it out in Division III.

In fencing, Division I, II and III denote skill level. The best ten percent of the nation’s fencers compete at Level I.

Miller fought six three minute battles in pool play July 5 to determine seedings for the direct-elimination bracket. In bracket play, the games are fought in three three-minute rounds with one minute breaks. The first one to 15 points, or the one with the most points at the end of the third round, wins.

In the bracket, Miller took out his first opponent. Two other fencers from the Amarillo College Fencing Association, Cole Wrampelmeier and Stephen Brown, fell in the first round.

Miller’s excitement got the best of him in the next game. He fell to Chris Pinkowski of Southern Calif.

"The coach said I could have beat him, but I rushed it," Miller said. Moving in too quick and aggressive can leave you vulnerable for attack, Miller explained.

Miller finished 104^th out of 179 in the Men’s Division III Foil, and Pinkowski went on to finish 12^th.

Although Weld did not join Miller and the other AC fencing students in Sacramento, he had an incredible journey of his own.

Weld accompanied his son, William, on a boys’ choir trip to England in March.

Weld made contact with the London Thames Fencing Club before leaving, and he received an invitation to come fence with some of England’s finest. Members of the club have won numerous All-England championships. Winston Churchill was a member of the club.

Weld fought nine matches and beat three of the club members. He scored 10 or more points in all of his matches.

"They were awesome fencers," Weld said. "It was a wonderful experience. I hope to go back and do better next time."

Weld’s tournament win at Lubbock was a nail-biter. He did not fair well in pool play and ended up in the middle of the seeding. He then went on to beat the number one seed 15-6. In the championship match, Weld won by one point.

The excitement and the challenge, along with the romance of it all, is what draws people to fencing.

"Once you’re addicted, that’s just it, you’re addicted," Weld said.

"It keeps me in shape," Miller said. "It is physically and mentally challenging. It’s a lot of fun. It’s the most intense game of tag you’ll ever play."

Miller compared fencing to a game of chess because you have to think several moves ahead. You spend time learning your opponent’s favorite moves and then use those against him.

"The first attack rarely lands a point," Miller said. "You have to set them up with something else in mind and hope they’re not setting you up."

The other four fencers in Dalhart are Annette Mellius, Allyn Mellius, Jacob Miller, and Jesse Cassidy. The Amarillo College fencing roster includes 58 students, 45 of which compete.

Juleah Nusz, a 12 year old member of the AC team, placed 7^th in the Youth 12 Women’s Epee competition at Sacramento.

Both Miller and Weld plan on continuing to pursue their passion when the next fencing season starts this fall. Both want to maintain and increase their present rankings within the USFA. Miller wants to branch out to learn the saber. Both also look forward to the nationals next year.

We asked Miller what his congregation thinks about his fencing hobby. Overall, he has found no objections.

"Besides who’s going to argue with a pastor with a sword," Miller said, jokingly.