Bayer hopes aspirations won't be foiled

Editors Note: This is the second of a three-part series previewing the NCAA fencing championships. This article highlights men's foil and epee.

Cliff Bayer has done it all in the world of fencing with one exception. The Pennsylvania freshman has won a World Cup, competed in the Olympics and been the No. 1 foilsman in the country.

Bayer is the favorite to win the men's foil title, but he will have to battle an extremely difficult field.

"It's a hard tournament. There's not much room for error," Bayer said. "It depends on who is feeling good that day."

Bayer won't be the only Olympian competing in foil. He is joined by Yale's Peter Devine, an All-American in 1995 as a freshman before redshirting last year to train for the Olympics.

The Olympians aren't the only contenders for the title, though. Columbia's Dan Kellner and Penn State's Gang Lu and David Lidow all have a good chance of winning it all.

Kellner is the No. 5 fencer in the country and placed third at last year's NCAA tournament. Lu and Kellner are no strangers. They met at the Penn State Open in November and again in a dual meet in February. Lu won both times in two extremely close bouts. Penn State coach Emmanuil Kaidanov is hoping Lu doesn't go into the NCAAs with too much confidence.

"He doesn't realize how many hurdles are in his way," Kaidanov said.

This will be the second time Lidow has made the trip to the NCAAs but the first time he is competing. He was an alternate on last year's team.

"Hopefully, I can make top four," Lidow said. "It will be as strong as any senior circuit event. Two-thirds of the Olympic team are fencing."

The men's epee field doesn't have as many stars as men's foil, but it will be equally difficult. The defending champion from last year, Jeremy Kahn from Duke, is back. The senior was the first-ever national champion for the Blue Devils and now is hoping to become the first repeat champion.

Kahn won the Mid-Atlantic/South region championship, defeating Penn State's Dean Jacobberger, 5-2, in the final. Jacobberger now is hoping to get revenge.

"I'm looking forward to facing him again," he said. "I started off strong, but then my leg cramped up and it kind of threw me off."

Jacobberger was a pleasant surprise for Penn State, but the other Nittany Lion entry in epee was no surprise. Penn State captain Jeff Feinblatt was a second-team All-American last year. This year he has his eyes set on the first team. This will be Feinblatt's final tournament, and it has taken on a special meaning to him.

"It's a different feeling," he said. "I want this to put a close on the last chapter in my fencing career."

Feinblatt, though, will have to overcome a field loaded with talent to accomplish that. St. John's, Stanford and Notre Dame all have two quality fencers in the epee competition.

St. John's probably has the strongest duo in the field. George Hentea placed second at last year's NCAA tournament, while teammate and former Nittany Lion Greg Gregor will be seeking his third All-American finish.