University Park, Pa.; March 19, 2007 - Led by Emmanuil Kaidanov, 12 members of the Penn State men's and women's fencing teams are heading to the 2007 NCAA Fencing Championships, hosted by Drew University in Madison, N.J. this week to compete for their tenth national crown. The four day event runs Thursday-Sunday, March 22-25. Penn State is sending the maximum of 12 participants who will compete in a pool of 144 fencers.

Leading the men is freshman Nick Chinman (Boulder, Colo.) who won the tournament at the 2007 Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals. Chinman is 26-7 this year. Joining Chinman in men's foil is junior Jeffrey Chang (Hong Kong, China). Chang is 46-13 this year and finished third at regionals.

In men's epee, freshman Steffan Launer (Neuweiler, Germany) brings a record of 35-9 with him to nationals. Launer finished second behind sophomore teammate James Moody (Denver, Colo.) at regionals. Junior captain Arthur Urman (Maalot, Israel) will join Launer. He brings with him a record of 34-14 this year. This will be Urman's third trip to nationals.

Junior Franz Boghicev (Dormagen, Germany), also on his third trip to nationals, will be representing the Nittany Lion men in the saber division. He has a record of 27-3 this year and finished second at regionals. Joining him will be senior Ian Farr (Portland, Ore.). At regionals, Farr tied with senior teammate Axel Reblewski (Les Molieres, France) for fourth place at regionals. He is bringing a record of 40-11 to nationals.

On the women's side, leading the charge will be freshman Doris Willette (Lafayette, Calif.). Willette is undefeated for the season with a record of 33-0. She finished first at regionals. Joining her in women's foil is senior Tamara Najm (Morristown, N.J.). She finished fourth at regionals and has a record of 39-6 this year.

In saber, the women will be well represented by senior captain Sophia Hiss (Oklahoma City, Okla.). This will be her fourth trip to the NCAA Fencing Championships. Hiss is a three time All-American and finished fifth at nationals last year. She brings with her a record of 37-5 this year with a second place finish at regionals. Sophomore Caitlin Thompson (Portland, Ore.) also qualified for nationals. She finished first at regionals and has a record of 27-3 this year.

Freshman Anastasia Ferdman (Maalot, Israel) will be leading the women's side in epee. She finished the season 53-9 with a first place finish at regionals. Joining her will be senior Case Szarwark (Nashville, Tenn.). A 2006 All-American, she finished seventh last year at nationals. This year, she has a record of 45-4 and a third place finish at regionals.

Penn State is looking to bring home their tenth national title after finishing second at last year's NCAA Championships. The Nittany Lions have won nine national titles under Kaidanov, including six straight and a seventh in a span of eight years. In the 2007 USFCA College Fencing Coaches' Poll, both the men's and women's teams were ranked first. Highlights of the Men's and Women's Fencing Championships will be shown on CBS at 1 p.m. Eastern time, Saturday, May 5. For up-to-date info on the tournament, visit www.ncaasports.com/fencing.