When it comes to the individual sports, few rely on survival instincts more then fencing.

The individualism of the sport is what draws Mountain residents Michael Ciancone, Liam Duncan and Logan Fitzpatrick to the Westdale United Church each week. The church gym is home to the Westdale Fencing Club.

Ciancone said he got hooked on fencing two years ago after watching the sport on television.

"The action, the combat, it's pretty fun," said the 14-year-old Westmount Secondary School student. "If you make a mistake, you learn from it and you keep going."

Recent success suggests Ciancone might be someone to watch in the future. He brought home two gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal from the Ontario Winter Games in Collingwood last month were he was up against some of the best fencers in the province. Ciancone figures he faced more than a dozen opponents, most older than himself.

"I did a lot better then I thought I would," Ciancone said. "It's been a really great experience."

He feels matches against older competitors makes him a better fencer, adding his strategy varies with each opponent.

"If they like to attack you, maybe you should take defence," he said. "If they like defending maybe you should do more offensive action."

Ciancone said fencing is a year-round sport that keeps him busy at least three nights a week plus more than 20 weekend tournaments a year.

Like Ciancone, 12-year-old Fitzpatrick got hooked on the sport after watching it on television more than three years ago.

Fitzpatrick, who has also played soccer and baseball, said he prefers fencing because it is unlike the team sports.

"With the etiquette and the positioning of your body when you're moving," he said. "I like individual sports better because I find you get a better chance to participate."

The G.L. Armstrong student said fencing is a great way to relieve stress and he enjoys working out at the club three times a week or at home.

He's hoping to become good enough one day to compete at international fencing events.

Like Ciancone, he often finds himself facing older opponents and was one of the youngest fencers at the Ontario Winter Games.

While he didn't bring home any medals, Fitzpatrick believes the experience has made him a better fencer and he looks forward to taking part again in 2010.

For Duncan, a 17-year-old St. Thomas More student, the physical aspect of fencing is what he enjoys the most.

"How many other sports let you hit people with swords," he said. "It's one of the most fun sports out there."

He had been working out three times a week at the Westdale club but other commitments have reduced that to once a week.

"My goal is to basically have fun, to better myself and to bring back shiny pieces of precious metal from ever corner of the world," Duncan said.

The Mountain resident faced a dozen or so opponents at the Ontario Winter Games and although he didn't win a medal he feels the trip to Collingwood was worth it.

"I think I learned quite a bit," he said.

Westdale Fencing Club coach Dan Banks said the Mountain youths are progressing well with their fencing skills.

"They're doing excellent," Banks said. "The biggest thing is not necessarily their recent achievement, it's the dedication and the time and the effort that they've put in over the past year. They're working hard and it shows."

Banks said to be a good fencer one requires dedication, athleticism and the ability to outsmart an opponent.