HOUSTON, Tex. - March 18, 2006 ¨C The Penn State men¡¯s fencing team took the strips Saturday for the 2006 NCAA Championships. The Penn State men¡¯s and women¡¯s fencing team headed into Saturday¡¯s action with a ten-point lead in the overall team standings. But, after day one of men¡¯s action, the team fell to second in the standings. Harvard is in first with 131 victories with Penn State just behind at 128 victories.

The strongest showing for the men¡¯s team came in the men¡¯s saber division. Sophomore Franz Boghicev (Dormagen, Germany), who finished fourth in last years Championships, sits in the same spot after Day 1 with a record of 12-2. Senior captain Martin Zaguins (Beaverton, Ore.) finished the day in 19th place with a 4-10 record. His bid to become a three-time All-American will fall short.

In the men¡¯s foil division, sophomore Jeffrey Chang (Hong Kong, China) is in 14th place at 6-8. Freshman Alexander Louton (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) was 4-10, putting him in 21st place.

Sophomore Arthur Urman (Maalot, Israel), an All-American in 2005, struggled in Day 1 of the men¡¯s epee division. He finished the day in 18th place with a 5-9 record. Freshman James Moody (Denver, Colo.) is in 21st place at 4-10.

In women¡¯s action, Penn State senior Katarzyna Trzopek (Warsaw, Poland) won her second gold in the women¡¯s epee. Freshman Caitlin Thompson and senior Annekathrin Donath (Tauber, Germany) both finished in fourth place of their division and received All-American honors. Senior captain Sophia Hiss (Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished in fifth place and junior Case Szarwark (Nashville, Tenn.) finished in seventh place. All of the Penn State women¡¯s fencers who finished in the top eight of their division received All-American honors.

NCAA Championships action continues tomorrow with the men¡¯s final rounds. Fencing starts at 9 a.m.