UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; March 12, 2007 - Freshman Nick Chinman (Boulder, Colo.), who competes in the foil division, won the tournament at the Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals held at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday. He has qualified for the NCAA Championships with this win. While the men's and women's fencing teams had 15 fencers qualify for the NCAA Championships, only six men and six women will attend.
Qualifying for the NCAA Championships along with Chinman in the foil division was junior Jeffrey Chang (Hong Kong, China). He finished in third place. Sophomore Alexander Louton (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) finished ninth.
In men's saber, Penn State had three team members qualify for the championship, only two will be attending. Junior Franz Boghicev (Dormagen, Germany) led the group with a second place finish. Senior Axel Reblewski (Les Molieres, France) and senior Ian Farr (Portland, Ore.) tied for fourth place. Freshman Daniel Bak (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) finished in seventh place.
Sophomore James Moody (Denver, Colo.) led the men's epee group finishing first. Freshman Steffan Launer (Neuweiller, Germany) finished second and junior captain Arthur Urman (Maalot, Israel) finished third. Junior Dennis Kraft (Rector, Pa.) ended the day with an eighth place finish.
The Penn State women also had a successful day with three first place finishes. In women's epee, freshman Anastasia Ferdman (Maalot, Israel) was one of the three first place finishes. Following her in epee was senior Case Szarwark (Nashville, Tenn.) who finished in third place. Freshmen Keri Byerts (Webster, N.Y.) and Maria Joao Reis (Sao Paulo, Brazil) finished seventh and ninth respectively.
All three competitors in women's foil qualified for the NCAA Championships but only two will compete. The women were led by freshman Doris Willette (Lafayette, Cali.) who finished first. Sophomore Allison Glasser (Piedmont, Cali.) finished third and senior Tamara Najm (Morristown, N.J.) finished fourth.
Sophomore Caitlin Thompson (Portland, Ore.), competing in the saber division, was the third first place finish for the Penn State women. Senior captain Sophia Hiss (Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished in second place and freshman Jessica Kim-Danh (Land O Lakes, Fla.) finished seventh.
From the group of qualifiers, six men and women will be chosen to head to the NCAA Championships. The championships will take place over four days from March 22 to March 25 in West Lafayette, Ind.
