M. Fencing gets one last shot to even season's Ivy record

It is all over this weekend for the Penn men's fencing team as its season comes to an end this Saturday in New York against Columbia and Penn State. The Quakers have earned a respectable 8-3 record, but unfortunately two of those losses went to two Ivies, Yale and Princeton. With those losses, Penn is only 1-2 against the Ivies with its one victory coming against Harvard two weeks ago. This weekend is the Quakers' chance to even their Ivy record, but it won't be easy. Having clinched at least a tie as Ivy League champion, Columbia comes into this weekend with a certain sense of security. Still, with a win against Penn its victory is secured. The Lions, like all other Ivy League competition, boasts a nationally ranked team. Specifically, it is Columbia's foil team that Coach Dave Micahnik is looking out for. Its entire team of foilers are Under 20 National Champions, including its No. 1 foiler, freshman William "Jed" Dupree. The Lions' strength, however, runs deeper than just their foil team. Columbia's quality also runs into its sabre team, which features another freshman, Patrick Durkan, who is currently ranked third on the U.S. National Seniors team. These days it is not uncommon for teams to be led by freshmen. More and more freshmen are coming into the intercollegiate arena with qualifications and experience to compete against the best. Micahnik is still optimistic about this weekend even with the weighty competition. He feels that the Quakers' sabre and epee team are definitely good enough to defeat the Lions. "If we are close in those two weapons and go head to head in foil, we could win," Micahnik said. Penn will be held back by the loss of their second foiler, David Cohen, who had a relapse of a prior injury to his index finger this past weekend at the Junior Olympics. This injury will sideline Cohen for at least a week. James Lyons will once again slide into the No. 3 spot to replace the injured Cohen. "It seems that every week someone is gone," Micahnik said. "I think Lyons has more bouts on the team than anyone. He has become a regular starter." Penn traveled to Penn State earlier this year, but opted to wait until now to meet the Nittany Lions. "I think that it is to our advantage to meet them now at the end of the season," Micahnik said. "The epee team is better and my sabre team is still a little shaky but our lineup is in better shape now than it was back then." With this weekend, the Quakers are looking for a chance to even up their Ivy record with a win against Columbia and enhance their overall record by taking down Penn State. With the strength that both schools pack, however, Penn will have to battle like Daniel in the Lion's Den.