W. Fencers finish second

Matched expectations and surpassed goals. All in a year's work. When the Penn women's fencing team beat Harvard to clinch a share of the Ivy title at midseason, the Quakers were happy, but expected the win. When they crushed Columbia to boast an undefeated league record and gain sole possession of the crown, they were excited, but it wasn't something members of the squad hadn't accomplished in the past. When both standout seniors were honored with all-Ivy recognition, they were elated, but they had earned that honor before. But as the doors to these goals were both passed through and successfully closed, one larger and more formidable challenge loomed ahead. Could they bring back a national title? Although this weekend's NCAA tournament showing by the Quakers failed to bring a national title to Philly, the Penn women's fencing team came away far from empty handed. With impressive victories over No. 2 seed Notre Dame and No. 4 Temple, the Quakers took second place, their strongest finish since they won the title in 1986. The weekend at Brandeis in Wellesley, Mass., provided undoubtedly the most competitive fencing of the year. Penn (23-3) posted a 9-5 victory over the Fighting Irish, who were undefeated entering the national event. And the Quakers' edging of St. John's, 9-7, helped to assure them of second place. "All the teams are very good. It's really how your team fences that day," Penn senior captain Anne Gaeta said. "Everyone on our team held their weight and we came together. It was an emotional meet." And that emotion may be best shown by the efforts of sophomore Megumi Sakae in her final bout against St. John's, one of many trying matches. Sakae and the entire squad thought she needed to win the bout for a chance at second place for the team. In fact, she needed only three touches, but nonetheless went on to sweep the entire dual. "My game was really coming together over the weekend," Sakae said. "We were all really excited about second, but we had a good chance to take the championship." But their chances at the title dwindled quickly as Penn State, which carries two recent NCAA individual champions, pounded all competition, including a 9-1 defeat of the Quakers. "I can't stand losing to them like that," Gaeta said. "Penn State has an intensity we don't have. They practice from 6 a.m. to 8 every morning and we just don't have the time for that type of schedule at this school." And if one were allowed to put the indefatigable powerhouse aside for just a night, the preface to this article may just have read 'Penn wins the national title.' Because certainly it would be the best squad of those in contention. The improvement the Quakers have shown over one year has been remarkable. Though a fifth-place national ranking last season wasn't pocket change, the team has shown it can finally fence with the elite. A former 3-2 Ivy record in '93 jumped to 5-0 this season, while regular-season losses were held to one, and that to a nationally-ranked but streaky Temple squad. "This season was much more positive than last year, as seen in our record," Gaeta said. "It was still frustrating to lose to Penn State and Temple through the season when we have the talent to beat them." Gaeta and fellow senior Rachel Iannacone led the team this year, and dueled in their final bouts, passing their intensity and spirit on to the future Quakers. As for sophomore Megumi Sakae, a second team all-Ivy pick this season, Gaeta sees a bright future. "She has a lot of possibilities and she's been fencing well lately. I think Megumi and the entire team will do very well next year," Gaeta said. And the sentiments cut both ways. "Anne was a great captain," Sakae said. "We'll miss her a lot." It is just this mutually respectful attitude that has brought this Penn team to such success. They exemplify a winning athletic team, talented but humble, motivated but controlled, relaxed but disciplined. And only with such qualities can you climb a ladder as steep as that which led to the national tournament. They made it, and balance atop in style.