Senior Omar Bhutta took the road less traveled to get to the NCAA championships March 22-25 at Wisconsin-Parkside.

Unlike heralded freshmen Non Panchan, Heather Brosnan and Adam Wiercioch or spring additions Amir Rahimi and Marta Grochal, Bhutta arrived at Penn State on his own accord, not as a recruit.

"I wasn't planning on competing in a collegiate setting when I came to PSU," Bhutta said. "I didn't think I was good enough."

However, Bhutta didn't allow his love of fencing to die. He went to the fencing club in the White Building regularly. There, he met coach Wes Glon.

Bhutta then helped organize an open tournament. Impressed by his work, Glon and Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov offered the freshman a team manager position.

"One of the benefits of team manager was that I could practice with the team," Bhutta said.

Now, in March of 2001, Bhutta heads to his first NCAA championship as a competitor. But the feeling is bittersweet.

"I wish Jon Charles could have come along also," Bhutta said. "I think the format for NCAAs is really silly. During the year, three people compete for the team, but only two can go to the championships. Jon worked and fought as hard as any of us. Non, Jon and I are really tight. It doesn't seem right to break that up at the end."

Still, Bhutta seems eager to take advantage of this opportunity.

"It's amazing," Bhutta said. "I feel excited, anxious, nervous, happy and proud all rolled up into one."

The senior foil fencer's teammates share his sentiments.

"For the seniors, it was great to see him qualify," senior captain Charlotte Walker said. "I think it was a surprise to him. To put in the effort and time, it is very rewarding."

Senior epee fencer Brendan Baby echoed Walker's words.

"It really confirms my belief that hard work pays off," Baby said. "Omar is a really special person. I really think he's going to surprise a lot of people by fencing better than we expect him to."

The former team manager has learned the ropes from some talented foil fencers during his years here. Gang Lu and Donald McGill each finished their Penn State careers ranked in the Nittany Lions top 10 for foil wins. Bhutta practiced with these two stalwarts for two years and competed in the four spot during his junior campaign.

"I didn't win a single bout for about two years because our men's foil team was so good," Bhutta said. "By my junior year, I was giving everyone a run for their money."

That junior season saw Omar Bhutta earn a 17-9 record. Bhutta also qualified for NCAAs as an alternate. This year, tough competition lowered his winning percentage, and Bhutta finished 12-16. Once again, he surprised the naysayers and qualified for nationals.

"I'm happy for Omar," junior Stephanie Eim said. "He's come a long way to earn a spot on the NCAA team."

Travelling to Wisconsin, Bhutta leads other first time competitors who hold the future of Penn State fencing in their epees, foils and sabers. Rahimi, Panchan, Grochal, Brosnan and Wiercioch constitute the future.

"They will definitely keep PSU as perennial contenders," Bhutta said.

This group has the promise to bring some hardware back to Happy Valley, but the man who has given so much to the program just wants to give a little more.

"I just want to give it my best," Bhutta said. "If it is not enough to earn a national championship or earn All-American status, so be it. As long as I know I gave it my all, I will consider it a success."