Feb. 21, 2008

University Park, Pa. - Penn State Fencing will head into this weekend with the pressure on against a good St. John's Fencing team. The men's and women's team will face off with the Red Storm this Saturday at the White Building. Competition will begin at 1:00 P.M.

The St. Johns men's team comes to University Park with a #6 ranking in the most recent USFCA College Fencing Coaches' Poll. Penn State (16-0) maintained their #1 ranking, remaining undefeated for the season. The Nittany Lions have put up some massive numbers this year, going a total 14-2 in epee competition, 13-3 in foil, and 14-2 in saber.

On the women's side, the Red Storm come in with a #7 ranking in the poll. Penn State (11-6) dropped from #4 to #9 after some recent struggles. One impressive note about the Nittany Lions is their 16-1 overall record in epee competition.

Following this weekend's competition, Penn State will compete in the NCAA Mid Atlantic Regionals at Drew University. The NCAA championships begin on March 13.

2nd USFCA COLLEGE FENCING COACHES' POLL

Men (previous ranking in parenthesis)

1. PennState (1)

2. OhioState (2)

3. Notre Dame (3)

4. Columbia (5)

5. Pennsylvania (6)

6. St. John's (NY) (4)

7. Harvard (7)

8. Duke (--)

9. Princeton (8)

10. Brandeis (9)

Women

1. OhioState (2)

2. Notre Dame (1)

3. Columbia-Barnard (3)

4. Northwestern (6)

5. Pennsylvania (7)

6. Harvard (5)

7. St. John's (8)

8. Temple (9)

9. PennState (4)

10. Princeton (10)