Sunday marked the end of a season for Penn fencing and the end of an accomplished career for men's captain Ron Berkowsky.
In front of a hometown crowd, Ohio State's Andras Horanyi permanently dashed Berkowsky's hopes of a national championship for the second year in a row.
"Imagine coming from a thousand miles away to play Penn at the Palestra," coach Dave Micahnik said, describing Berkowsky's challenge.
Berkowsky met Horanyi in the final of last year's championship, but barely lost, 13-12.
But this year, when the two squared off in the finals, momentum seemed to be in Berkowsky's favor.
"[Berkowsky] was far and away the top seed," Micahnik said. "He had a twenty-touch lead on Horayni going into the finals."
During preliminary bouting, Berkowsky handed Horanyi a defeat on his way to a 22-1 record.
Unfortunately for the Penn senior, history would repeat itself. In front of a gymnasium packed with Buckeye faithful, Horanyi rallied to score seven unanswered touches and his second consecutive foil championship.
Berkowsky's second silver at the National Championships marked the end of an illustrious collegiate career for the Sicklerville, N.J. native, who placed third and fourth in the tournament freshman and sophomore years, respectively.
Berkowsky retires his foil as the only four-time first-team All-American in Red and Blue history.
"I can't say that I wouldn't have liked to win my final match," Berkowsky said, "but the past four years have been great and I can't be angry at myself for not winning."
With big shoes to full, sophomore brother Jon made his NCAA-Tournament debut this weekend.
Amidst a crowd of sabrists that coach Micahnik characterized as young and talented, the younger Berkowsky earned an All-American honorable mention with his 12 wins and 11th place finish.
Berkowsky may have been a little awestruck by the tourney's majesty, Micahnik said.
"Once he got his confidence up, he started cruising," he said.
Women's captain Ilana Sinkin earned her first selection as a an All-American, in her third trip to the tourney. The junior won 12 bouts en route to a ninth-place finish.
"I've improved each time," Sinkin said. "I made All-American and that was my goal."
Freshman Danielle Kamis won 12 bouts earning herself honorable mention All-American status.
Both Penn's men's and women's teams finished seventh, despite only qualifying eight and twelve fencers for the tournament.
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