State College, Pa. - March 8, 2003 - 11 members of the Penn State Nittany Lion fencing team have qualified for nationals and will make the trip to Colorado and the Air Force Academy in two weeks as Penn State will look to defend its NCAA National Championship. A twelfth qualifier is still possible as the qualification committee deliberates the final slots at the tournament.

Five men's fencers will be going to nationals, including Regional champions in each weapon. Junior Alex Weber (Frieburg, Germany) won the title in the sabre and will make the trip as will teammate and regional runner-up Marten Zagunis (Beaverton, Ore.), a freshman. Defending national champion Nonpatat Panchan (Bangkok, Thailand) won the Regional title in the men's foil and will return to defend his crown. Panchan, a junior, will be joined in the foil freshman Chris Miller (Salina, Kan.), who placed fifth.

Junior Adam Wiercioch (Gliwice, Poland) won the Regional crown in the men's epee and will make another trip to nationals. Teammate Ethan Muri (Altoona, Pa.) placed sixth and is still being considered for a slot in the national tournament. That decision should come by the close of the weekend.

On the women's side, six Lady Lions will make the trip to nationals, including Regional champion Jessica Burke (Upper Marlboro, N.J.). Burke won the crown in the women's epee and will be joined at nationals in that weapon by regional runner-up Katarzyna Trzopek (Warsaw, Poland).

Freshman Annekathrin Donath (Touber, Germany) was runner-up in the foil and will be joined at nationals by sophomore Meredith Chin (Wynnewood, Pa.), who placed fourth. Junior Heather Brosnan (Portland, Ore.) was Regional runner-up in the sabre and will return to the national tournament as will senior Austin O'Neill (Pound Ridge, N.Y.), who placed fifth.

Penn State will take part in the 2003 NCAA Fencing Championships March 20-23 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Penn State won last year's team national title and has won seven of the last eight national titles and nine overall.