Underclassmen Meredith Chin and Ian Schlaepfer got the opportunity to star this past weekend for the Penn State fencing team as the fencers traveled to Columbus, Ohio to participate in the Junior Olympics.

The United States Fencing Association's Junior Olympics is the premier under-20 open event, and features some of the best teenage fencing in the country.

Freshman Ian Schlaepfer has already made a big impact for the fencers this season, and has been attending the event since 1997. Schlaepfer had a very strong showing in the foil, battling all the way to the final four, where he claimed third. This was his last opportunity to participate, because he will turn 20 next year.

Head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said that Schlaepfer had a very solid performance. He had a good command of new techniques that he is just beginning to learn, and they found things he needs to work on.

"It's a transition period for me," Schlaepfer said. "I've got some of the old and some of the new."

Freshman Meredith Chin came to Penn State with most of her experience in the epee, but upon her arrival, the coaching staff switched her over to foil. She has been competing very strongly ever since. At the Junior Olympics, she competed in the foil and epee, and finished a remarkable 12th in both events.

"For the most part, it was a good competition," Chin said. "Everyone was there to have fun." She also said that she was very pleased with her progression in the foil.

Kaidanov and assistant coach Wes Glon accompanied the team to Columbus. It was an important opportunity to focus their attention on the younger fencers as well as begin the recruiting process.

"For us, it's important to help our kids and see what's going on in the fencing world," Kaidanov said. He also said that because most of the competitors at the tournament are still in high school or younger, it was a big opportunity for Penn State to attract potential recruits.

"We saw a lot of young fencers, and they saw us," Kaidanov said. He said that it was a very productive weekend in all respects. The No. 3 Nittany and Lady Lions will be practicing all week in preparation for the final events of the season. This coming weekend will be the team's last dual meet, a much-anticipated battle with No. 1 ranked St. John's at University of Pennsylvania.

Two weeks later, the fencers will be competing at the Mid-Atlantic/South Regional Championships, where they will try to qualify the maximum 12 fencers (two at every position) for the NCAA National Championships at the end of March.