After winter training, Fencing opens season with easy meet

High expectations await men as they open the season and Michael Hasday The very successful men's fencing team opens its season against three mediocre foes. Translation: It should be a cake walk. The three likely victims will be Haverford, Duke and Brown, and the action will start tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Weightman Gym. Of the three opponents, the Blue Devils should be the toughest opponent. But as senior All-American George Kalmar said, "These are all teams we should beat easily." Penn fencing coach Dave Micahnik, who has a .788 career winning percentage as the men's fencing coach, also brushes his competitors off as nothing to fear. "Duke has some good epee and foil swordsman, and they should put up a good fight," Micahnik said. "But these are all teams that we should beat." Traditionally, Penn has always opened its season with a more challenging meet, but this season Micahnik decided to give his team a break. "It's definitely an easier opening meet than we've had in years past," junior Ed Cleaver said. Although the Quakers need not have sleepless nights worrying about this trio, perils lie ahead for Penn's fearless fencers. Yale, Columbia and defending-champion Princeton -- which is returning another strong squad -- are all vying with Penn for the Ivy title. But hopes run high for the Penn's fencing team. After all, under Micahnik, the men's fencing team has won a NCAA championship title (1981) in addition to finishing second in the NCAAs three times (1978, 1980, and 1987). Expectations are also high. That's what past successes will do. "This team has a lot of talent and following a strong finish last year, we have a lot to build on," senior captain Nathan Anderson said. "This looks to be a great year." Anderson will be counted on heavily to make the potential for that great year a reality. He does have the credentials: a No. 8 ranking in the 1995 Ivy League foil standings, a No. 9 ranking in 1995 IFA Individual Championships and a 1995 selection to the NCAA Championships. Joining Anderson as team leader is Kalmar, a three-time All-American. Kalmar went 24-3 last season and blanked opponents 3-0 five times. "This should be a good first meet for us," Anderson said. "Duke is certainly the toughest of the three schools, but we should still have a relatively easy time with them. Hopefully, it will be a successful start too our season."