Before this weekend, Penn State fencer Jessica Burke was cruising to a spot on the U.S. National Team.
Early in the season, Burke, the 2000 National Epee Champion, seemed to have another crown in sight after capturing her second career Garret Open women's epee title.
Burke then dueled to another epee title in December at the North America Cup Open. The win catapulted her in the national rankings from No. 15 to No. 4.
But as the saying goes -- and it's a saying that the nine-time national champion Penn State fencing team knows well -- when you're at the top, the only place to go is down.
At the NAC Open this weekend in San Diego, Burke struggled, failing to make the direct-elimination rounds.
The disappointing finish will not cripple the two-time All-American's chances of qualifying for the national team, Penn State fencing head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said.
"She's very consistent," he said. "It happens. I know she's very strong."
Kaidanov cautioned, however, that Burke cannot afford to make another mistake of the same degree.
Though Burke didn't win a third epee title at the Open, her teammates filled the void.
Lion freshman fencer Katarzyna Trzopek, whom Burke defeated to nab the Garret Open women's epee title, out-maneuvered Penn State alumnae Stephanie Eim, a four-time All-American and the 2001 national runner-up in the women's epee.
