(Penn: 9th at NCAAs)
The quintet of Penn men's fencers that went to the NCAA Championships last weekend at Drew University brought back a ninth-place team rank and one All-American.
After placing third at regionals, Penn sophomore Jeff Breen carried over his recent dominance into the national championships. The foilist led the Red and Blue attack with 15 victories, claiming an All-American nod in the process.
Breen's weapon-mate, sophomore Andy Radu, fell five spots short of All-American to capture the 17th spot.
"[My rank] was pretty sucky," Radu said. "I lost to people I had beaten in the regular season.
"I beat a few good people like Derek Snyder from Notre Dame, but I lost some bouts I could've won. It was just high stakes competition and I didn't have experience. I was a little nervous, too."
In the epee, senior Scott Eriksen traveled to Drew with the hopes of winning status as All-American for the third time in his four years. But it was not to be, as the senior came up just shy with a 14th-place finish.
Contrasting the veteran Eriksen, senior epee Jim Benson made his debut at nationals.
"I was fencing really well," Benson said after finishing 21st. "I had some really good bouts, but everyone there is really good.
"There were 24 people there [in each weapon], and they were pretty much the 24 best collegiate fencers. All-in-all I'm happy with how I did."
Rounding out the Quakers' effort was yet another senior, sabreist Dan Vincent who finished 22nd.
In combined team scoring, the Red and Blue finished ninth with 68 total victories by the men's team over the weekend.
Penn State avenged last year's loss of the national crown by defeating St. John's, 195 bouts to 190. The Red Storm won the title last year, ending the Nittany Lions' six-year streak.
With three of the national qualifiers graduating this spring, Breen and Radu will become the linchpins of a Quakers squad undergoing heavy turnover.
In Radu's mind, after driving through the competition in his first year as a starter, the road to being an All-American isn't so long.
"Next time I do this thing," he said. "I'll clean up."
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