Destinies of three fencing teams will intersect at South Bend

Three teams, each with different motives, are on a collision course with each other. One seeks self-assurance. One seeks vengeance. One seeks recognition.

For the Penn State fencing team, this weekend's trip to Notre Dame can provide a boost of confidence to the team coming off a tough battle with Stanford two weekends ago.

The Lions, Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will have their opportunities Saturday morning. Teams from Northwestern, Lawrence, Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy will fence as well. It is apparent that each of these squads will have their sights set on Penn State.

"We're looking forward to fencing Penn State," said Notre Dame head coach Yves Auriol. "And I'm sure Penn State is very excited to come to Notre Dame. We're looking forward to fencing the national champs. They're the team to beat."

The Irish probably can't be blamed for seeking revenge against the Lions. After all, the Notre Dame women's team only lost one match all last season -- an 18-14 defeat at the hands of Penn State. The men's team lost just a pair of meets. But one of them did come against the Lions, 16-11. And to top it all off, Notre Dame finished second to Penn State in both the men's and women's team competitions at the NCAA Championships last March.

Penn State coach Emmanuil Kaidanov isn't discrediting what Notre Dame can accomplish. He said that key graduations from his squad, especially the loss of All-American sabre fencer Sergei Lilov, will make the task of defeating the Irish difficult this year. He also said the very fact that the meet will take place in South Bend, Ind., will work to the advantage of the Irish.

"(Last year) it was on our own turf," Kaidanov said. "We won every weapon, but it was very close."

Kaidanov expects a tough weekend for his women's foil team. It will have its hands full with Ohio State's Yelina Kalkina and Notre Dame's Sara Walsh. Kalkina and Walsh competed in the gold medal match in the foil competition at last year's NCAA Championships, with Kalkina taking home the title.

"I've seen them compete in different individual tournaments," Kaidanov said of Kalkina and Walsh. "But as a team, people act differently. Nobody's unbeatable. That's the beauty of the sport."

Ohio State assistant coach Michael Shearer said with Kalkina and the women's foil team cashing in on a big season, the Buckeye women can give Penn State a hassle. But the Ohio State men may be a different story.

"I expect a good duel with the women," said Shearer. "For the men, we'll do our best, but I expect a Penn State victory."

Despite Penn State's tough bouts against Stanford in their last meet, the Lion contingent head to South Bend as confident as ever.

"I don't think there are any opponents we should lose to (this weekend)," said Lion foilsman David Lidow. "These teams are good -- but they're not as good as Stanford."