University Park, Pa.--December 3rd 2008: After a couple of weeks off from competition Nittany Lion Fencers will be competing for top spots at Vassar this weekend. Penn State men will look to continue their battle for perfection as well as red-shirt sophomore Doris Willette (Lafayette, Calif.). Her record in her first year of collegiate fencing was 33-0 and after taking a year off to prepare for the Junior World Championships and the Olympics Willette is back, striving to continue her flawless freshman year record. Play begins Saturday December 6th at 10 a.m.
At the Garret Open freshman Nina Westman (Kalmar, Sweden) defeated the World Champion, Courtney Hurley, to take first place in the epee division. She will also be vying for gold this weekend in epee. Fellow freshman Monica Aksamit (Matawan, N.J.) is looking for gold after taking third place at the Garret Open in the saber division.
Senior Allison Glasser (Piedmont, Calif.) will be looking to capitalize at the opportunity for scoring gold at Vassar this weekend. After losing in a close bout at the Garret Open to teammate Willette, Glasser will be vying for a top spot.
As for Penn State's men fencers, Junior Max Dettlinger (Louisville, Ky.) whose career statistics for his freshman and sophomore year are 18-6 will be looking to take home gold for Penn State after his impressive first place performance in epee at the Garret Open. Along with Dettlinger, junior Daniel Bak (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) will also look to win another gold in the saber division for Penn State. Bak placed second at the Garret Open and his career statistics from his freshman and sophomore year are 51-15. He will definitely be a contender for a top spot on Saturday.
Finally, junior
Nick Chinman (Boulder, Colo.) who defeated Princeton University's Alex Mills at the Garret Open for first place in the foil division will be vying for gold. Over the past two years Chinman has accumulated career statistics of 60-11, the highest on the team.
The Nittany Lions will get several more weeks off until they compete at Princeton on January 24-25. They will compete against Duke, Drew, Haverford, Penn, and North Carolina.
