Fencers snare fourth straight NCAA title


Monday, March 23, 1998	Fencers snare fourth straight NCAA title By DONNIE COLLINS Collegian Sports Writer The Penn State fencing team began this season with the same dream it had the last three seasons. On Sunday, as it did in each of those years, the dream came true again. Coming from behind, the Nittany Lions won an unprecedented fourth national title in as many years, defeating Notre Dame, who had led most of the four-day tournament.
`Penn State Fencing Home Page`	Head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said the team that brought home the fourth title lacked some of the strength of its predecessors, but made up for it with superior heart and determination. "It's great. Great with 15 exclamation signs," Kaidanov said. "In a sense of unity and cohesiveness and spirit, it's a great team." After the second day of competition, the Lions stood in third place behind pre-tournament favorites Notre Dame and Stanford. Penn State was able to jump into the second position after Saturday's matches, however, pulling within three bouts of the leader, Notre Dame. On Sunday, the Lions overtook the Irish, finishing just two points ahead of Notre Dame, 149-147. Stanford came in third.
Penn State fencer Charlotte Walker practices with head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov. Penn State won its fourth-consecutive national championship this weekend, the first ever school to do so. (Collegian Photo/Mike Morones - click for full size image)	The big question heading into the tournament for the Lions was their inexperience. Penn State brought four freshmen and three sophomores to South Bend, Ind., and some wondered if the lack of NCAA competition would bring an end to Penn State's winning streak. But the Lions' youngsters made sure youth was served. Freshman Charlotte Walker won the Lions' first individual national championship in two years on Saturday, defeating 1996 national champion Nicole Dygert of St. John's 15-4 in the women's epee final. Walker's success did not surprise her coach. "Charlotte winning the individual NCAA championship is a wonderful result," Kaidanov said. "I had serious expectations that she would (win the championship)." The success of the Lions' youth brigade didn't end with Walker. Sophomore Ola Korfanty earned All-American honors with her fifth-place finish in women's epee. Sophomore Carla Esteva gave a solid performance in women's foil, finishing tenth and getting Honorable Mention All-American recognition. Freshmen Aaron Stuewe and Michael Takagi led the Lions to a win in men's sabre with a solid performance. They finished sixth and seventh, respectfully, in the sabre competition. Both are All-Americans. Sophomore Gang Lu's and junior David Lidow's success carried over from the regular season to the championships. The duo was tied for the lead in victories in men's foil with 12 heading into Sunday's competition and fenced their way to All-America honors by tournament's end. But the veterans weren't to be outdone. Junior epee fencer Tom Peng was named the tournament's outstanding fencer following his performance on Sunday. Peng, captain of the Lions' men's team, won eight bouts in the first five rounds of the epee competition on Saturday. But on Sunday, he was even tougher -- winning eight more bouts in just three rounds. He also finished the tournament as an All-American, and with an eighth-place finish in epee. "Peng was magnificent," Kaidanov said. "Everybody did a superb job." Peng's efforts on Sunday weren't without excitement. In the final round of competition, Peng won three 5-4 bouts.
`1998 NCAA Fencing Championships Results (courtesy Notre Dame Athletic Home Page)`	"I tried to keep focused and not get down on myself when I was losing," Peng said on the University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Web Site. "I knew that if I stay focused, I could get back in it." The Lions are the first team in NCAA history to win four consecutive team fencing championships. Wayne State in Michigan won four straight men's titles from 1982-1985.