UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Feb. 24, 2005)- The latest USFCA results have announced the Penn State fencing team in the top three on both sides. The men¡¯s squad took over first place, with Ohio State dropping to second. The women are strongly in third, with Ohio State, again dropping to second, as Notre Dame tops the chart.

Last year, the men and women¡¯s fencing team finished the NCAA championship in second place with eight All-Americans. The team¡¯s overall finish, added to its career record of never having placed lower than second since 1990¡¯s first combined fencing championship.

Penn State looks to defeat 2004 champions, Ohio State; to win their 10th combined NCAA championship in 15 years.

The Nittany Lions will compete in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Regional Championships, March 5-6. The NCAA championship is scheduled for March 17-20.

For more information, please visit our website www.GoPSUsports.com

USFCA Official Rankings (as of Feb.23, 2005)

MEN
(PREVIOUS RANKING IN PARENTHESES)

1. Penn State (2)
2. Ohio State (1)
3. St. John's (NY) (3)
4. Notre Dame (4)
5. Columbia (5)
6. Harvard (8)
7. Princeton (6)
8. NYU (--)
9. Air Force (10)
10. Pennsylvania (7)
Others -- Duke, Rutgers, MIT, Brandeis, Stanford, Wayne State (MI),
Boston College, UC-San Diego, Yale, North Carolina

WOMEN
(PREVIOUS RANKING IN PARENTHESES)

1. Notre Dame (2)
2. Ohio State (1)
3. Penn State (3)
4. Harvard (4)
5. Columbia-Barnard (5)
6. Northwestern (6)
7. Pennsylvania (8)
8. Princeton (9)
9. Temple (10)
10. St. John's (NY) (7)
Others -- Duke, Wayne State (MI), Stanford, NYU, Yale, North
Carolina, Air Force, Brandeis