Fencing brings Leon back to roots at Penn

Olivia Leon followed fencing rather than her family legacy to Penn. Without the insistence of her high school friends, women's fencing senior captain Olivia Leon would probably have never picked up fencing and began her successful path through national tournaments and the Ivy League. "In my high school we were very encouraged to play a sport and I wasn't really good at any other sports. So I decided, why not?" Leon said. "I thought it looked interesting, but I didn't know much about it," Leon's mother commented. "But when Olivia took it up, it was almost as if she was designed for it." Leon's decision to fence additionally had the effect of making Penn one of her top college choices. Despite having two generations of Penn alumni in her family, if it wasn't for Olivia's attendance of a fencing camp held at Penn the summer before her senior year in high school, Leon would have probably never considered Penn a viable college choice. "From an early age I was persuaded that Penn was where I should go. So I sort of decided that it was where I really didn't want to go. But then summer camp changed everything," Leon said. Leon went to the one-week training camp, led by Penn fencing coach Dave Micahnik, and it had a great impact on the young fencer. "I liked the campus, and I liked the fencing program.? In sort of a round-about way, fencing was a reason I decided to come here," Leon said. As captain of one of Penn's most successful teams of the past two decades, Leon leads the Penn women fencers into their post-season competition this weekend. A leader by example, Leon earned second-team All-Ivy honors with a 12-8 Ivy record last year. A quick starter, as a freshman she was one of two Quakers fencers to represent Penn at the first-ever epee section at the NCAA tournament. Leon, an only child, was born and raised in New York City where she attended the all-girls Chapin School. After her soccer season ended in the eighth grade, at the urging of three close friends, Olivia went out for fencing despite having no personal or family history with the sport . Ironically, one of these close friends, Katy Lane, is now the captain of the Columbia University fencing team, which Penn lost to last weekend 19-13. The two have been good friends for 17 years, although Leon admits they, "weren't tight in kindergarten." During her junior year in high school, Olivia was persuaded by Lane to join her as a member of the New York Fencing Club. Incidentally, that club's coach, Boris Leiberman, also coached Penn freshman epees Kari Coley and Charles Hamann. Leiberman now coaches NYU fencing. Earlier this season, his three former pupils led both Quakers squads to victories over his teams. "He was standing on the opposite side, calling time-outs for my opponents," Leon said. "Kari and I were both very nervous." Leon hid it well, bringing in three wins in the Quakers 21-11 victory. Leon came to Penn at exactly the right time -- her freshman year was the first time women's epee was counted in college matches. That team won the Ivy title and Leon's season was topped with the honor of representing Penn at the NCAAs. "I got to see the [first] National Champion stand up on the podium, and even though it wasn't me, it was really nice," Leon said. Fast-forward to first semester junior year. Leon missed several individual competitions, including the Penn State Open, where she finished sixth this year. Why? Because she's studying abroad, taking classes in media arts and fencing in Royal Holloway at the University of London. "It was on the level of a club sport [there]," Leon said. "Everyone was there to have fun. The matches were laid back, and no one kept records." After her semester abroad, Leon stepped right back into the flow of things. She posted a 26-17 record in '96-'97, and earned second-team All-Ivy honors. This season, the captain improved to 37-26 overall, including 15-5 in the Ivies, as the Quakers ended up 10-7 (2-3 Ivy League). Last Saturday, Leon went 3-1 for the fifth time in the Ivies this year, as the Quakers won their last regular-season match, 21-11, over Cornell. "I had very mixed feelings," Leon said. "I was kind of sad. I'm going to miss it? but I was happy I won my last bout." As this year's captain, Leon has proven to be an effective leader. Elected last May at the annual fencing banquet, Leon has worked hard at her newfound leadership role. "It was nice to know the team respected me and thought enough of me to elect me captain," Leon said. "She's a complete captain, working with both the men and women's teams? and organizing all sorts of team activities," junior epee and good friend Meredith Galto noted. Leon does not, however, heed the model of an outgoing and vocal captain. Instead, she is seen by all as leading through a caring, quiet and concerned personality. "Olivia is one of the least threatening people I know, ? but people who don't know her [style] end up hitting themselves after they lose the bout," Micahnik said. Still, through all her time spent fencing, Leon has been able to keep her priorities in perspective. This past fall, when asked for assistance by Penn foil and Olympic team member Cliff Bayer, Leon agreed to help his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, in one of their programs with area youth. Bayer and Leon put on a demonstration for more than 40 6- to 9-year old children at the West Philadelphia YMCA. The two taught the children and then staged a short match, stopping after each point to explain movements and technique. "I was happy to help," Leon said, "I knew it meant a lot to Cliff? and it was fun to see the kids' faces when we were interacting." At the Chapin School, Leon travelled across the city to tutor children in reading at a public elementary school. She also dedicated time, during the 10th and 12th grades, to her church, St. James, running their weekly acolyte, or processional program, and coordinating. Leon will graduate this spring with a degree in communications -- a trait that is an important aspect to any team sport, and one that she has displayed in in all she has done. Leon gained an added insight into this area via a job she held four years ago as a link between the students and the University in the Admissions Office. "I really enjoy what I do, working with the students and talking with them," she said. Leon has been successful in all that she has done and has left a good impression on those around her. Earlier this month she was one of four fencers honored at an awards ceremony for four-year female varsity athletes. Started a few years ago, this event recognizes those female athletes who have dedicated their time and energy to the University. Considering that she never planned to fence or even attend Penn, Leon has certainly dedicated a lot to the University and to the fencing team.

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