For one, it was a reason to start a new life in the United States. For the other, it was a reason to follow his teacher and have a better life.

No matter which way you look at it, fencing brought sabre captain Thomas Strzalkowski and Assistant Fencing Coach Wes Glon together, and to Penn State.

As a friend of the Strzalkowski family ten years ago, Glon offered to bring the young Thomas over with him to the United States to look over him and train him at his club in Richland, Va. Glon took Strzalkowski under his wing and became a father figure to him as he started Thomas fencing about a year after landing in the United States.

"In the beginning, I didn't see anything special," Glon said. "Once I started training him at the club, I knew he had the talent and qualities of fencing."

Strzalkowski had the qualities of fencing, but Glon had the quality of coaching. Several years after the voyage to the new world, Glon was offered an assistant coaching position at Penn State. After accepting the slot, Strzalkowski decided to follow in his teacher's footsteps to Happy Valley.

"He was offered a job here at Penn State and I decided to follow up on his coaching and decided to come over here," Strzalkowski said.

Four years after his debut at Penn State, Strzalkowski has made a name for himself as a fencer, and as a result, was named team captain and sabre captain for this season.

"It puts him under pressure," Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said. "But it looks like this guy is keeping pressure quite well."

It looks like it because he is.

The most awarded sabre fencer on the team, Strzalkowski carries around a record that would make Mick Jagger envious. His portfolio includes two straight NCAA titles in 1992 and 1993, a first team All-American in 1992 and 1993, a second team All-American in 1991, as well as fourth place at the Junior Pan American Games in Cuba in 1990.

As for this year, Strzalkowski has his sites set on a three-peat and beyond.

"I would like to win NCAAs for the third time," said the senior, but hinted at the possibiliy of taking next year off to train in Europe for a shot at the Olympics.

"Outside, I'm shooting for the national team and I might try to make the Olympic team in 1996," he said.

Glon believes Strzalkowski has as good a shot at making the Olympic team as anyone.

"I have hopes he will make the Olympic team," the Poland native said. "In fact I have confidence he will do it."

If anyone should know, it's Glon. Since the day Strzalkowski decided to fence for Glon, he has "quietly" been tearing up the strip by shooting down a number of opponents.

"He is the one who doesn't talk much but leads by example, which is a good type of leadership," Kaidanov said.

Teammate and roommate AndyGearhart can relate to his coach's account.

"He's a pretty quiet person but he's friends with everyone," the foil captain said. "I would say he's got a good relationship with everyone on the team."

According to Strzalkowski, that is his job.

"I try to have a good atmosphere for the team, make sure everyone gets along really well," Strzalkowski said. "I'm trying to be a motivator for people to train, have a good time and improve at the same time."

As for Kaidanov, all he had for Strzalkowski were high remarks, complimenting his work ethic, relationship with the coaches and leadership abilities.

"He has developed a nice sense of responsibility," Kaidanov said.