Grace Ding, from Bolton and a freshman at the Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough, represented the United States at the Cadet World Cup, an international fencing tournament in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, at the end of November. Grace, competing in the under-16 foil division, placed 105 in a field of 214.

The event attracts some of the best fencers in the world and takes place in the hometown of Emil Beck, who, as the longtime coach of its national team, made Germany the world’s foremost fencing power.

“It was a really good experience,” Grace said. “I was able to see many different fencing styles, meet new people, and travel to a different country.”

Grace is a member of the Boston Fencing Club, and trains at least three days per week at the club’s facility in Waltham. She competes all over America, traveling this year to Virginia, Missouri, and California. It was in Anaheim in June that Grace won a silver medal in women’s division 2 foil in a national tournament hosted by the United States Fencing Association. http://usafencingresults.com/jul-sn-dv2-womens-foil/

Grace, who dreams of becoming a software engineer, also hopes to one day become an Olympic fencer. “I think the best thing (about competing in Germany) was learning how to push myself,” she said.

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