Fencers come and fencers go at Penn State.

The national championship factory keeps pressing out trophies. But, the Nittany Lions didn't reel in the gold this year.

With the help of first team All-Americans Stephanie Eim, Non Panchan, Marta Grochal, and Adam Wierioch, the Lions future should glimmer like its past.

Each person came within an eyelash of winning NCAA gold at the championships last weekend, and none of them are seniors. In fact, three are just freshmen.

The loss took its toll, but increased the thirst for gold next year.

"I'm proud of the fact I won 21 of my 23 bouts during the round-robin," Eim said. "I regret the way I lost my semifinal bout. The gold was so reachable. That's what still hurts."

Eim lost in the semifinals in heartbreaking fashion — 15-14 to Arlene Stevens of St. John's.

"I'm proud of our team, but I'm not satisfied," Panchan said. "Maybe I will be next year."

Panchan also tasted the gold medal. But he ran out of time in a 14-10 loss to Columbia's William Dupree.

Of the four, Grochal may have the most to fight for next season. In her loss to Stanford's Iris Zimmerman, Grochal fenced injured.

"In the semifinals, my opponent stepped on my foot," Grochal said. "I was really upset. Not being able to move and not having enough motion. The bout looked totally different than it was. I know I can do better than that."

Wiercioch takes a positive approach to his first NCAAs.

"I wanted to win gold," Wierioch said. "But, second's not that bad."

Penn State takes one positive from this past weekend. The Lions beat Notre Dame with fewer competitors. Losing to St. John's 180-172, the Lions topped the Irish 172-153.

"That was awesome," Eim said. "There is no other word for it. We had 11 fencers and almost rocked the house."

Lion fencers averaged just over 15 wins per person. St. John's averaged exactly 15 wins.

Had the Lions qualified the full 12, Penn State would have won by five points.

When coach Emmanuil Kaidanov throws former NCAA champions Daniel Landgren and Jessie Burke into the mix, he has a talented group of fencers returning.

After, early losses this year to the hands of St. John's and Stanford, captains Charlotte Walker and Mike Takagi took plans to Kaidanov to enhance the intensity of practice. Those two will be leaving. The Lions also lose Omar Bhutta and Jon Charles in foil, Brendan Baby and Marco Martemucci in epee, and Judy Gordan and Colleen Hicks in foil.

Younger Lions obviously have shoes to fill. The heirs apparent to the captain spots appears to be Eim and Landgren. Both played significant roles in the program since their arrival.

"Charlotte and Mike gave so much," Grochal said. "But, I'm not worried about next year."

"We have strong leaders among our juniors," Panchan said. "I'm sure they'll do a great job leading us to the 2002 national title."

The large senior class left some holes in the line-up, but strong fencers remain at every weapon. Men's foil was a young cast this year. Second team All-American Amir Rahimi returns next year along with former All-American Michael Stahlhut in men's saber. All-Americans Heather Brosnan and Stephanie Tam return in women's saber. The cupboard certainly isn't bare.

Still, the Lions have to regain championship gold instead of retaining it. How will the Lions respond to losing their first national championship after six consecutive wins?

"We all performed really well despite the loss," Eim said.

"The individual accomplishments stand for what Penn State is a program with a great past and an even brighter future," Eim added.