Senior Spotlight: Malia Hee, Fencing
4/20/2020
A four-year member of the Owls, Malia Hee was the sabre squad captain and had the most wins of any saberist this season with 62. The Vancouver, Wash. native set the career record for all-time sabre wins with 235, tying with fellow senior Kerry Plunkett. After earning a second-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, she was selected to represent the Owls at the NCAA Championships for the second time in her career. Hee will graduate in May with a degree in advertising.
Owlsports.com caught up with Hee as she finishes her final semester at Temple.
In the book of your life, what’s the title of the Temple chapter? "For the Cherry and White."
What’s the best part about being a member of the fencing team at Temple/what will you miss the most? Out of everything, I’m going to miss seeing my wonderful teammates every day whether it's at practice, the Resnick Center, the lounge, or around campus. When you spend so much time with your team, it's just like having fourteen other sisters. There are moments you want to strangle them, but the majority of the time you love them to death. I have also learned so much from them, from Margherita teaching me the newest TikTok dance to Zoe teaching me about her 3D printer.
What is your favorite memory of being a student-athlete at Temple? There are too many moments to recall in such short response, but if I recalled a favorite moment, it would be finding out we were voted No. 5 in the NCAA’s collegiate coach’s poll. Leading up to the announcement, our team had just finished the day exploring Chicago and half of us visited the Art Institute while the other half did an escape room. Just as we were leaving the restaurant from dinner, Coach Franke made the announcement and the girls were beyond excited. Being in the top five was a goal we had in the back of our heads since my freshman year.
If you could give advice to your freshman year self, what would it be? Don’t be afraid to branch out from your team and meet other students, whether it’s joining a club/organization or signing up for study abroad. I’ve met so many people outside of fencing through those ways and I still stay in touch with them!
Where do you see yourself in five years? In the next five years, I hope to combine my passions for graphic design and sports at a sports apparel brand, specifically Nike. Since touring Nike’s World Headquarters, in Beaverton, Ore., I immediately fell in love with their campus, but most importantly their mission to bring sports to the greater community through their innovative athletic wear.
First off, I want to thank my team for making these past four years an unforgettable four years. We’ve all won together, laughed together, cried together, and grown together. These young women have shaped me into the woman I am today. Secondly, I would like to thank Coach Franke for recruiting me to join her team. Choosing Temple over other schools was a no brainer because the university had everything that I wanted: a large-diverse city, a graphic design program, and a top 10 fencing program. Lastly, I want to thank my family for supporting me the whole way through and being there whenever I needed them the most. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be fencing.Malia Hee, Temple Fencing Class of 2020
