Penn State All-American fencer Zara Moss (Cranberry Township, Pa.) was devastated when Penn State Fencing's season was cut short just five days before the NCAA Championship due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the Nittany Lion All-American fencer reset, refocused and is now looking ahead with new perspective.
"I struggled a little bit at first dealing with the fact that our season was taken away from us," said Moss. "I worked so hard all season and I felt like minutes before nationals was supposed to start, it was yanked away from us."
But, with the help of others and after much reflection during the interim, the senior saber All-American is ready to enter into this season with a brand new mindset.
"I realized that I can't take fencing for granted. When you're in the everyday grind of practice and waking up at 5:30 a.m. to walk up Shortlidge Road before the sun is even up, it's not easy to think, 'This is such a blessing and I'm so lucky to be here'," said Moss. "My mindset now is that this isn't something that I'm guaranteed so I need to take in every day and enjoy practices and being with my teammates."
Moss had a career-best 54 wins last season and earned herself a spot in the 2020 NCAA Championships before the tournament was cancelled.
The most challenging obstacle Moss and her teammates are facing right now is preparing for the uncertain season ahead. With her new frame of mind, Moss is shifting her focus to the little things she once took for granted.
"Before, I would have said, 'What am I practicing for if our season isn't starting until 2021 at the earliest?" said Moss. "But now, I'm approaching it as another three hours that I get to spend with my teammates and as time that I won't get to spend with them next year."
One of the most difficult parts of Moss' time away from fencing this year was the time she spent away from her teammates.
"It's easier to remember what you're working for when you have your teammates around you," said Moss. "These are people that are all my best friends and I would do anything for them."
"We went from seeing each other six hours a day to not seeing each other at all for five months," said Moss. "It was amazing coming back and getting to see all of my teammates. I definitely shed a few tears when I saw some of them again for the first time."
While her number one goal this season is winning an NCAA Championship, her ultimate goal is making sure that each day counts.
"I don't want to look back on the time that we do have this year to train or compete and wish I had done more or enjoyed it more," said Moss. "Every day, no matter how early it is or how tired and sore I am, I'm trying to be thankful for the opportunity to be here and just have as much fun with my teammates as I can."
