The Penn men's fencing team will undoubtedly see an Ivy League championship plaque in Weightman Hall next year after securing the title last Wednesday against Princeton. The only question that remains is whether Columbia will take home a similar emblem after this weekend's match in New York. "When I was younger I didn't like to share my toys," senior epee Dan Borden said after the Princeton victory. "I don't see why I should start sharing now, especially something this good." But defeating last year's Ivy League champs will not be easy. The Quakers -- currently ranked fifth in the nation -- will have to beat a No. 7 Columbia team that returns essentially the same lineup from last year. The Lions' epee squad, who had a combined .774 winning percentage last season, returns all three starters. Moreover, they have added freshman Bill Verigan, last year's New Jersey High School Fencer of the Year. Verigan's sister, Christina, is a senior sabre on the Penn women's fencing team. The Columbia foil squad also returns all three starters, including All-Ivy selections Kevin Eriksen and Nico Jaspers. The Penn foil team, however, starts three first team All-Ivy honorees. The Lions' sabre squad boasts first team All-Ivy member Andrew Sohn and second team All-Ivy Jared DeMatteis. "Their sabre team is extremely solid," Kindrachuk said. "They're all contenders at a national level." The team remains confident that it will be able to pull out a victory, especially because they enter the meet with the title in their pocket. "Our two teams are pretty even," freshman sabre Mark Kindrachuk said. "It's going to come down to who has more heart. They have to be a little nervous because the pressure's on them. I think that will help us." The Lions' sole Ancient Eight loss was in their first match of the year, a 14-13 barnburner against Harvard. The Quakers handily defeated Harvard earlier this season 17-10. As if defeating Columbia isn't arduous enough for the Quakers, they will also take on Penn State, the nation's second-ranked squad, at the same meet. Cornell and Temple will also compete during the meet. Last year's national champs, Penn State has a myriad of some of not only the best college fencers, but some of the best fencers in the world. "They are all contenders, period," Kindrachuk said. Junior sabre and captain Alex Weber, an All-American last season, won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships in Germany this summer. The Nittany Lions also boast last year's individual national foil champ, junior Nonpatat Panchan. Panchan missed the first semester of school this year to vie for a spot on Thailand's Olympic team. Penn State's best epee, junior Adam Wiercioch, is a two-time All-American and won a silver medal at the European Championships this summer as a member of the Polish national team. Despite the Nittany Lions' impressive resum, Penn remains fairly confident about the matchup. "I always think we have a chance of winning," Kindrachuk said. "They are strong, but it's lonely at the top. Everyone is after you."
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