Posted on Sat, Nov. 29, 2008

Eric McDonald learned to fence by the book — one that came straight off the shelf of the Visalia public library.

McDonald was in high school at the time. Inspired by “The Three Musketeers,” he and his friends decided to take up fencing.

One problem: The small Central Valley community of Visalia — population 22,000 — offered little in the way of formal instruction.

There were no classes, no clubs — just that single book in the public library.

That was enough, though, to spark what was to become a lifelong love and dedication to the sport for McDonald — a dedication he’s now passing on to Central Coast youths through his volunteer coaching with local clubs.

Since he started coaching in San Luis Obispo in 1992, McDonald has trained more than 1,000 students on the Central Coast, ranging in age from 10 to adult.

He volunteers 10 to 12 hours a week, coaching a club team at Cal Poly, as well as a community club, the San Luis Highlanders. That’s not counting the couple of weekends a month he spends at tournaments.

He receives no pay for his work; any donations from club families go toward equipment purchases and toward renting the gym where the San Luis Highlanders practice.

Families travel from as far as Santa Maria so their children can participate in his program.

“He’s teaching kids a life sport. They’ve developed a passion and love for it,” said Paula Jaskulsky of Orcutt, who’s had four children study under McDonald.

But it isn’t just fencing that their children learn, the parents say.

McDonald teaches children invaluable life lessons such as self-reliance, self-control, self-confidence.

Parents see it when their children compete, and strive to do a little better each time.

“It’s a gift he gives to all the kids,” Jaskulsky said. “They do walk out of here with a lot more confidence.”

Parents are equally quick to commend the coach’s calm demeanor; the only time they’ve heard him yell — ever — is when he saw something potentially dangerous happening.

(For the record, none of his students has ever suffered a significant injury.)

Most of McDonald’s students are new to the sport; some have tried team sports before, but are looking for a new challenge.

Fencing teaches them balance, hand-eye coordination and agility, but is also good mental exercise.

“It’s just you against the opponent,” McDonald said. “You’re forced to think for yourself.”

That’s something McDonald knows from much experience.

After those early, by-the-book lessons, he did receive more formal training; serendipitously, a couple of fencing champs from New Zealand moved to Visalia shortly after Eric and his friends took up the sport.

McDonald went on to become an accomplished fencer who competed at the collegiate and national levels. He also taught and coached fencing at UCSB.

In 1992, McDonald and his wife, Cal Poly architecture professor Margot McDonald, settled in San Luis Obispo. Eric, a computer programmer/systems analyst at Cuesta, offered to coach at Cal Poly, and his involvement in the local fencing community mushroomed from there.

In addition to coaching, he’s been instrumental in organizing leagues, at both college and community levels, to give his students opportunities to compete. That, however, isn’t his focus.

“I don’t really believe in pushing kids into competition,” he says. “They have to be ready for it.”

It’s not so much about wins and losses, but about the personal progress each student makes.

For McDonald, there’s joy and satisfaction just in hearing parents remark that their kids — who may have started the program as gangly, uncoordinated beginners — are no longer tripping over themselves at home.

“I do it for that,” McDonald said.

That makes him an unsung hero in our book.

For information about club fencing programs, contact Eric McDonald by e-mailing emcdonal @cuesta.edu.

 

ABOUT THE UNSUNG HEROES SERIES

While The Tribune seeks to celebrate our community’s quiet heroes throughout the year, it’s especially appropriate during the holidays, when we pause to give thanks, gather with friends and family and share the warmth and light that brightens our lives. These unsung heroes are people who practice the Golden Rule and are passionate about their causes but seek no return for their actions other than the satisfaction that comes with helping others.

By highlighting individuals who unselfishly apply their energy and skills to lighten the burden of others, we hope, first, to offer these community heroes the appreciation they deserve; second, to let those who could use the help know of available resources; and, third, to inspire others who are able to help in whatever way they can.