SEASON PREVIEW: M. Fencing tries to improve on 3rd-place finish

As with all squads, the men's fencing team hopes to show improvement this year. But that may be difficult considering an overall third-place finish at last year's NCAA tournament and possession of one of the traditionally strongest sets of sabre and foil squads in the nation. Coached by Dave Micahnik, who enters his 21st season, Penn has nonetheless found a way to improve. The epee squad, the weak link last year, has turned into a formidable force. Sophomore Alex Edelman, who won both major tournament and regional championships last year, along with captain Edward Cleaver, look to make epee a dominant force in Penn's meets. Not to be overlooked, the sabre squad, which graduated two starters, should recover and demonstrate its characteristic strength. If last year's third-place finish in the NCAAs is to be matched or topped, great contributions will be needed from two-time first-team All-American George Kalmar, and impressive freshmen Andy Choi, John Demas and Sanjin Agashiwala. Penn's foil squad, which last year finished sixth in the nation, is ready to improve since all but one member returns. The rest of the team has had a year to improve and is highlighted by returning juniors Mike Fox, Eric Banks and Nathan Anderson. "Even though we had a respectable finish last year, we feel we didn't overachieve," Banks said. "We think it's possible to accomplish more than that this year." Penn is in the midst of a two-meet preseason which concludes this weekend with the usually challenging Penn State Open, hosted by one of the top teams in the country. As well as being a time to get in good shape, preseason competition is a period for feeling out the opposition. The preseason becomes even more important since the Quakers compete in the Mid-Atlantic region, which is the toughest in collegiate fencing. In the region are traditional foes like Princeton and Columbia, as well as Penn State and St. John's, which are among the finest fencing teams in the nation. Meets against the Tigers and Lions will be critical in determining whether the Quakers will capture their 10th Ivy League title. That prize has been elusive the past several years. Penn had a 1-4 league record last season. "Our traditional opponents this year look very strong, as they are all substantially improved," Micahnik said. The regular season ends in late February with the Intercollegiate Fencing Association championships in New York. Edelman captured the individual epee championship there last year. "Our new members are very aggressive and serious," assistant coach Yuanchun Ma said. "I think we can even better last year's success."