W. Fencers top Columbia for Ivy crown

The tears Anne Gaeta and Rachel Iannacone shed are ones of happiness, not yet of finality. The two senior fencers played an integral role Saturday in bringing back to Penn the Ivy League title they last won two years ago. And this time the victors will have something to show for it. For the first time in women's fencing history, a trophy will be given in recognition of the champions. The trophy, currently being sculpted, is in honor of Penn's own legendary fencing coach, Lajos "Maestro" Csiszar. A coach from the late 1940s through the '70s, "Maestro" led the Quakers when current Quaker coach Dave Micahnik was in his dueling prime. "It is just absolutely splendid for us to win it this year when the trophy is initiated," Micahnik said. The Quakers defeated defending-champion Columbia Saturday at Hutchinson Gymnasium in a match to clinch sole possession of the crown. A loss would have put Penn's title hopes in severe jeopardy. The Quakers settled for nothing less than a blow-out, leaving no question as to its place atop the Ivy League. Labeling the victory against the Lions, 14-2, as convincing would be an understatement. The Quakers (13-1, 4-0 Ivy League) pulled away at the start with six consecutive bout wins, leaving Columbia's bench only eager to get back to New York, as far away from a relentless Penn team as possible. Captain Gaeta set the tone for the day with a first-bout 5-4 victory over the Lion's top fencer, Nayma Kim. And as past matches have proven for Penn, when it starts off winning, momentum pulls it to a substantial and insurmountable lead. "We were really pumped up," Gaeta said. "We had everything on the line and we were serious about what we had to do." And this seriousness took the form of three more victories, posted by the other starters -- Iannacone, junior Inca Chui and sophomore Megumi Sakae. And when Gaeta took to the strip for her third bout of the day, her victory put the Quaker lead at 9-1, clinching the title. "When it got to nine we were ecstatic," Gaeta said. "We were a little nervous before but we were hugging when we knew we won." Columbia (0-7, 0-4) had come within three points of Harvard, Yale and Princeton, while the Quakers manhandled each of these clubs throughout the season. "The thing that makes this team strong is its balance," Penn coach Dave Micahnik said. "We have four people who can come in and win a bout. It doesn't matter against whom." Who would fill the fourth starting position posed some problems for Penn earlier in the season. A loss to Temple in January was due partly to inconsistency. The Quakers had capable and talented fencers rotating in the fourth spot, but lack of experience gave the squad some trouble. Out of the pack rose junior Inca Chui, who has fenced extremely well in this position, as evidenced by her 3-0 record against the Lions. "Chui's progress has been terrific," Micahnik said. "She's been coming along super and she looks strong." The Quakers' quick spurts at the start, thanks to this solid line-up, have given them early leads throughout the season. That has allowed Micahnik to substitute his younger and less-experienced fencers into competition. Junior Sarah Johns notched a victory for the Quakers in her lone bout of the day. With top-seeded seniors Gaeta and Iannacone graduating, giving these women experience will be crucial to a repeat of this season's success -- although the four starters will surely see the bulk of the action at the regionals and NCAAs. Penn State and Notre Dame, two powerhouses who could not make Saturday's meet because of the weather, will take on the Quakers. "It's been fantastic. The team's commitment and unity is what makes it so strong," Gaeta said. "The most rewarding thing is to end up with a successful season. I'll miss it a lot." So with a new trophy to symbolize Penn's recent success and long-time fencing history, the Quakers savor the moment.