SEASON PREVIEW: M. Fencers look to experienced sabres

With the possible exception of Greco-Roman wrestling, fencing is the world's most popular sport invented by the ancient Greeks. Bearing that in mind, a group of 21 individuals representing Penn will look to stab and jab its way to a successful season. The Penn men's fencing team had mixed results last season – while both the sabre and epee teams placed second in the NCAA tournament, the foil team was not quite so fortunate. This season the results should be similar, although the epee unit may not be as strong as last season. "The sabre team should be the best in the country," said senior captain Evan Glanz, a past all-American and all-Ivy competitor. "Other than that, we will have to see, especially with the epee group. Last season, the sabres and epees carried the team. This year, it will probably just be the sabres." Glanz, who was an all-American his first two years and missed last year by one point, does not intend to denigrate the epee crew, though. Senior Tamir Bloom is an all-American fighter who competes on the United States national fencing team. Freshman Alexandre Edelman won the under-19 fencing division at the California State Games and placed second at the Temple Open. Freshman Edward Cleaver placed in the 9-16 bracket at the Temple Open, which is a pre-season individual practice event. "Our sabre team looks to be our strength," Quaker coach Dave Micahnik said. "We're looking for some of our experience to filter down to our younger guys. We hope that the younger guys will gain some additional ability and experience to make our team more competitive." Last year's foil team featured two freshman, a junior and a senior, all of whom return to try and foil their opponents this season. They met with mixed results last season, but the added experience should help. "The foil team was not fantastic last year, but they should be better due to their added experience," Glanz said. "This team has an interesting mix of younger players and experienced veterans," Micahnik said. "There are a few freshman who will compete for positions on this team. After that, it will be up to the older guys to teach the younger ones how to be the best." Either way, the Penn team looks to compete for the Ivy League title. There is a power vacuum at the top of the league, and Penn looks to fill it. Traditionally, Columbia has been the powerhouse, with Penn, Princeton and Yale nipping at the Lions' heels. Neither Dartmouth nor Cornell field fencing units, so in the six-team league, it is virtually anybody's game, although Brown has never been close to winning a title. But the Quakers believe that the league is wide open because the Lion dynasty will be weaker because of graduation. "Columbia was great last year, but they lost half of their team," sophomore sabre George Kalmer said. "They are always tough, and so is Penn State, but both will be weaker because they lost some key team members." Coincidentally, the next competition for the Quakers will be at Penn State on November 20-21 in yet another preseason individual meet. Penn looks to the preseason meets as confidence-builders that will guide it through this season. Lofty personal goals abound on this team, which features a core of talented athletes. Kalmer was an all-American last season, and both he and Glanz look to continue their brilliant performances this season. "Personally, I want to be an all-American again," Glanz said. "I'd also like to go through the Ivy League season undefeated and be on the first team of the all-Ivy squad." But Glanz will not allow personal accolades, of which he has received many, obstruct the team's goals. His first concern is the success of the entire Penn squad. "This is probably not the best team Penn has ever fielded," Glanz said. "But we'll be competitive. When the foil and epee teams gain the much-needed experience, Penn will be in a position to dominate."