Fencers to battle for NCAA five-peat today

By DARREN STEELE
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State fencing team is on the road again, but this time it's not just another road trip. Beginning today, the Nittany Lions' road leads to the NCAA Championships at Brandeis in Waltham, Mass.

The Lions begin the defense of their national championship today and will try to hold off hard-charging teams and make it five consecutive national titles. When the dust clears Sunday, the team hopes to stand on top.

The Lions will travel to the New England State with some impressive numbers. The women went undefeated during the regular season, posting a 15-0 record. They looked rock solid against other powerhouse teams such as Notre Dame and Stanford. The men carry a 10-1 record, their only loss coming against Stanford.

"We have a pretty good team going in," coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said. "This year's field is very strong. Our opponents are very strong. They are sick and tired of Penn State always winning. We will have to do our best."

Two of the teams gunning for the Lions and Lady Lions will be Stanford and Notre Dame.

The women sent The Lady Irish packing, 23-9, the last time the two faced each other on Jan. 23. In that meet, Ola Korfanty and Stephanie Eim were at the peak of their games.

Both of these women will accompany the team to Brandeis. Korfanty was a 1997 All-American and was given honorable mention last year. She will be an alternate on the team this week, along with fellow teammate, senior Keysa Oritz.

Eim has been the Lions' fab freshman this year. She won the women's individual epee competition last week at regionals, and will be a force to be reckoned with at Brandeis. While Eim will be a new force for the Lions, the women's team will bring along an all too familiar weapon.

That weapon, sophomore Charlotte Walker, was last year's NCAA women's individual epee champion and a 1998 All-American.

She received a medical waiver last week but will be ready to defend her title this weekend. She gives the Lions a real force, one that Notre Dame is aware of but can do nothing about.

The men are sending six of their fencers to this battle royal of fencing talent. Junior Gang Lu, who finished first overall in the men's individual foil competition last weekend, will lead the team. Lu will be joined by teammates Don McGill and David Lidow.

"I think I am pretty well prepared," McGill said. "Coach and I have worked really hard this year. I think my chances are good, and I think we can be considered the favorite. This year, in every single weapon we have a great team. I definitely think our chances are good."

The Lions may be especially dangerous this year. McGill, Lidow, and sophomore sabre specialist Mike Tagaki have had to overcome injuries. All three are at the top of their games now, and unlike some men's teams, they will be injury free going into the meet.

The real threat could come from Stanford. The Cardinal beat the Lions 14-13 at Penn State, but Penn State will be looking to avenge the loss. Along with the three individual foil competitors, the men will take Tagaki, sophomore sabre handler Aaron Stuewe and freshmen Michael Stahlhut and Daniel Landgren. They will also have senior co-captain Tom Peng. He may prove invaluable, as he has led them to several victories in the closing bouts.

Penn State will be looking to capture its fifth consecutive title, its seventh in the '90s. The team came home champions in 1990, '91, '95, '96, '97 and last year. In the years the Lions did not win it all, they finished in second place.

Penn State is the favorite again, and another championship would be a fitting end to a decade of dominance.