COLUMBUS, Ohio, January 15, 2007 ¨C This past weekend, both freshman Doris Willette (Lafayette, Calif.) and sophomore Caitlin Thompson (Portland, Ore.) led the Penn State fencers with fifth place finishes at the NAC D Open in Columbus, Ohio.

Senior captain Sophia Hiss (Oklahoma City, Okla.) competed among 80 other fencers and finished 20th in the women¡¯s saber division.

Leading the Penn State men was junior captain Arthur Urman (Maalot, Israel) who finished 25th in the men¡¯s epee division. Sophmore Charles Cimet (East Setauket, N.Y.) finished 110th. Following them were sophomore Daniel Hadley (Henniker, N.H.) and freshman Samuel Gay (Ojai, Calif.). They finished 117th and 199th respectively in a field of 265 participants.

Sophomore Alexander Louton (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) finished 32nd of 203 in the men¡¯s foil division. Senior Ian Farr (Portland, Ore.) led the Penn State men in the men¡¯s saber division, finishing 27th. Following him were senior Axel Reblewski (Le Moliere, France) and freshman William Anderson (Waban, Mass.) They finished 44th and 121st respectively.

For more information on the NAC D Open meet, visit www.usfencing.org/usfa.

The Penn State men¡¯s and women¡¯s fencing teams return home Jan. 27 for their second home meet. They will compete against teams from schools such as Columbia University, Duke University and Haverford, among a few others. The meet begins at 9 a.m.