Every college athlete dreams of the moment when their years of early-morning practices and sacrifices pays off, the one where the lights shine the brightest. They all dream of hoisting the NCAA trophy.
On March 24, 2024, senior foilist Bryce Louie did just that. In a bout against teammate and now-senior foilist Blake Broszus, Louie proved victorious in a 15-9 bout to become Penn’s first individual national champion in fencing since 2013 and first in foil since 1997.
It was a picture-perfect moment for Bryce Louie, achieving victory in front of his older brother Brennan Louie and for a program that has given him so much. Ever since he was eight years old, Bryce Louie had fenced in the backyard in the shadow of Brennan Louie. During one of the biggest moments of Bryce Louie’s career, his brother, who saw him every step of the way in his fencing journey, was on the sidelines as a Penn assistant coach.
The blood, sweat, and tears paid off. Louie was officially the champion.
But, as the saying goes, heavy is the head that wears the crown.
“Something that I didn’t really anticipate was the year after being the champion. It’s so much pressure,” Louie said. “And there was so much intense pressure [that] I put on myself that was not needed at all.”
Louie had the mindset that he had to go back-to-back. But this mindset limited him on the strip. He fenced conservatively and risk-adversely compared to his normal standards. During the NCAA regional championships, Louie underperformed and didn’t know if he would make it to the NCAA championships.
In the wake of the performance, Louie took to Instagram story posts to talk about his underperformance. In it, he said his sports psychologist made him realize that he had three ways to look at the results: He could let it define him, destroy him, or strengthen him. As he waited to hear if he had a bid to the NCAA championships, Louie knew his mentality had to change.
“Why am I saying all this? Why am I putting all this pressure on myself?” Louie recounted asking himself. “It’s because I want to live up to everyone else’s expectations of me. But does that really matter, right? Is that really fulfilling for who Bryce Louie is? No. I do this sport for myself, and I have to be selfish with it.”
This time around, with a title defense on the line, Louie went back to his roots: Just enjoy the moment and ignore the expectations.
The change in mindset worked. Louie finished fifth at the NCAA championships to cap off his collegiate fencing career. It was not a title defense, but Louie still left with his head high and does not shy away from talking about the final results — especially to his 7,000 followers.
In the year after his victory, Louie started posting on his Instagram, typically short-form reels mainly surrounding fencing. The reels are usually comedic bits that feature his teammates and friends. He has posted several collaborations with fellow Penn athletes, including one with junior high jumper Kampton Kam and senior breaststroker Matt Fallon. And despite what other people may say, Louie doesn’t care about critics of his posts.
“I feel like there is a stigma that I shouldn’t post because ‘I’m cringy’ or ‘I’m nervous about that,’” Louie said. “You being your unapologetic self matters more than what other people think.”
In addition to his fencing comedy, Louie talks candidly about his performances, even the underperformances. He wants his account to be a safe space for athletes and to start a dialogue about the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with competing.
“Many people, when they think about the competition and the nervousness, [they think] they shouldn’t be feeling like this: ‘This is bad. This is bad,’” Louie said. “In reality, we’re human, and that’s a fine feeling to have and be nervous for it. Let’s break that down.”
Like most seniors, Louie will continue the next chapter of his life after he walks the stage at graduation. He will continue fencing full time on the international senior circuit and hopes to qualify for the United States Men’s National Fencing Team.
But he will leave behind the fencing family that has supported him from before he stepped foot on Locust Walk. Out of everything collegiate fencing has given Louie over the years, the family he’s gained has been most important — even more important than the championship ring.
“Next year, when I’m on that senior circuit, it’s going to have to be me reminding myself [that] I’m part of that Penn family and I’m representing the people that love me throughout my whole career,” Louie said. “Even though I’m not in college anymore, I’m still going to be a Quaker.”
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