Fencing squads eager to tackle NCAA field

It is that time of year again. As winter yields to spring, many winter sports face the end of the road. But this finale usually does not come without a culminating tournament, one that is a large factor in determining a team's success or failure. The Penn men's and women's fencing teams begin their season-ending tournament tomorrow when nine Quakers participate in the much-anticipated NCAA tournament in South Bend, Ind at Notre Dame. The four-day event will hold only individual competition this year, as opposed to previous formats that included team competitions as well. Under last year's format, Penn vaulted to an overall team placing of third. There will still be a team ranking this year, but it will only be based on the individual performances of a school's athletes. Since Penn had nine fencers invited to the event, (there is a maximum of 10 per school) it will be in good position to capture another top team placement. However nice it would be for the team to garner success, the emphasis in this year's NCAAs will be on how well the Quakers can fare individually. "This is the most significant tournament of the collegiate season for individual fencers," Penn coach Dave Micahnik said. "It lets the fencers see where they fit in with the country's top competition." Four women from the defending Ivy League champions will try their luck this weekend in Indiana. Co-captain Megumi Sakae who last year led the foil squad to a second-place finish at the NCAAs will join senior Christina Kim as foil's contingent. Their epee counterparts will be freshmen Anastasia Gunzburg and Olivia Leon. Both had outstanding first-year seasons in establishing the strength of Penn's epee squad in the first year of official competition for that weapon. Their years will now be topped off with the honor of being the first women to represent Penn at nationals. The five Penn men going to Notre Dame will probably be less vulnerable to the pre-match jitters. Adam Brown in foil and surprising freshman sabrer Sandy Agashiwala are making their first trips, but Nathan Anderson in foil, Alex Edelman in epee and sabrer George Kalmar have all participated in the championships before. The latter two fenced in the individual section last year. Kalmar's third-place finish last year earned him a spot on the first-team all-America team, but Edelman did not fare as well. After winning the IFA and regional tournaments last year, he felt he did not prepare well enough for the increased intensity of the NCAAs. He does not want to waste his second chance. To overcome their top opposition, the fencers must rely on both physical and mental endurance. In the two women's weapons, 32 athletes were invited, while the men have 30 fencers in their three divisions. Then the grueling part begins. Each of the 24 will fence his 23 counterparts before each weapon's champion is decided. How much energy and how much focus the fencers have left near the end of the competition will greatly determine who will leave the winner.