Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan captured a bronze medal and helped Penn State University clinch runner-up honors in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association Fencing Championships.
Cantantan, a new recruit of the Penn State Nittany Lions, was one of three members of the women’s team, who clinched semifinal berths in their respective weapons’ categories Sunday (Monday in Manila).
The 18-year-old former University of the East fencer, however, bowed to 23-year-old teammate Lodovica Bicego, 14-15, in the semifinals to settle for the bronze. Catantan tied Amita Berthier of Notre Dame for third overall.
With Catantan leading the charge and going undefeated in all of her 20 preliminary matches before bowing to Bicego in the semis, the Penn State Nittany Lions scored a total of 182 points in the tournament to finish runner-up behind eventual champion Notre Dame at the Bryce Jordan Center University Park, Pennsylvannia.
It was Notre Dame’s 11th national fencing crown.
Catantan, Bicego and three of their women’s teammates, earned All-America honors.
Senior captain Kelli Wozniak scored victories in 15 of her 21 bouts to claim a spot in the saber semifinal.
Wozniak then lost to Kara Linder of Notre Dame, 14-15.
A senior member of the team, Wozniak tied Karolina Kaleta of St. John’s for third overall and earned All-America honors as well.
Their saber teammate Zara Moss took 14 wins out of her 21 bouts, to settle for fifth overall and also earn the All-America honors.
Freshman epee fencer Kateryna Chorniy claimed wins in 13 of her 21 bouts, for an eighth overall finish.
This gave Chorniy theAll-America honors in her first NCAA tournament appearance.
Their epee teammate sophomore Axelle Wasiak, a recruit from Belgium, finished the tournament winning nine of her 21 bouts and 14th overall.
A total of 10 Penn State fencers earned All-America honors, including five male fencers Ryan Griffiths (men’s epee), Jonathan Piskovatskov (men’s epee), Clement Perrier (men’s saber), Sebastiano Bicego (men’s foil), and Arwen Borowiak (men’s foil).
The Nittany Lions have a new head coach in Wes Glon.