Penn State's run as six-time defending national champions in fencing may soon end.

The Nittany Lions desperately needed to qualify the maximum of 12 fencers to compete at fencing's "Big Dance," March 22-25 at Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Lions fell just shy of that number with 11.

The Achilles heal proved to be the women's epee squad. Thin after the graduation of Beth Shelley in December and the illness of defending national champion Jessie Burke was too much weight to bear.

Freshman Kristina Viviani and sophomore Lauren Wangner fought to the bitter end at regionals held in Madison, New Jersey. Viviani's finish of 12th left her outside of the cut line.

After dominating the sport for six years, confidence and spirit hit a low point -- but not for long.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm disappointed that we are going to be one-short at NCAAs," said captain Charlotte Walker. "I have learned over the years this may not be such a disadvantage. We are not going to be looking over our shoulders."

"It was a shock a bit at first," Stephanie Eim said. "The more time goes by the better we all learn to deal with it."

With luck, Penn State's rivals would have only qualified 11 as well. Like so many times before, lady luck spurned the Lion fencers this season. Notre Dame qualified the full 12. The St. John's Red Storm, who blew into State College to defeat the men's squad in late January, also qualified 12.

"We are going to be looking forward to see where they are and what we have to do to beat them," Walker said.

The Lions have their dancing shoes on and 11 are ready to waltz. Defending national champion Daniel Landgren brings with him freshman stalwart Adam Wiercioch in men's epee. Captain Mike Takagi and Amir Rahimi battle in men's saber. Non Panchan storms into NCAA's in men's foil with Omar Bhutta.

"The results at regional championships were fantastic," Walker said. "It was very rewarding to be coming into the biggest challenge of the season with a good result behind us."

Marta Grochal and Walker move onto NCAAs in good standing in foil. Eim continues to plow through competition in women's epee. Freshman Heather Brosnan debuts in saber. The NCAA Fencing Committee will decide the fates of Stephanie Tam and Austin O'Neill today. One's in and the other becomes an alternate.

These Lions look to make the best out of the situation and not dwell on results they can't change.

"By the day, our fighting spirit gets stronger and stronger," Eim said.