We were on our way: eighteen fencers, four coaches, a manager, and trainer. All of us destined for Harvard, Boston, the site of the 2010 NCAA National Fencing Championships. We, Penn State were heading into the tournament ranked number 2, behind the strong favorite Notre Dame. I have to admit that as determined as I knew we all were, I was a little uncertain about how we would do. True, we were the reigning champions, but our team was weaker than last year's. But I tried not to think about it all too much as the events started on a Thursday morning. The first two days of the NCAAs were women’s events followed by the men on the final two days. Unlike most sports, fencing is a combined sport, so the combined efforts of both the men and the women decided the championship. After day one, we were in third place, 7 bouts out of first place and only 4 behind second. I must say we were both surprised and pleased that we were that close because our women had not had the best day of fencing.
The second day was much better as our women were fencing with heart and passion ending the day still third, but now only 2 bouts behind the leader and our freshman, Italian Margarita, picked up an individual National Championship on the way. Then it was day three and our (men’s team’s) turn. I remember feeling really sick, like I was going to vomit that morning. There had never been an NCAA Fencing Championship competition that was this close, involving so many teams still in contention so late in the competition. Having started as a rocky morning, day three ended with a strong effort by us so that we finished day three in second place, only 2 bouts behind the leader. The championship was in our grasp. Our men’s captain called a meeting of all the guys, where he simply said if we fence our hardest and win our bouts we will be National Champions no matter how well the other teams do.
As Day 4 started, we knew that the first round was the most important. We finished this round with a 15-3 record securing our second straight National Championship and the 12th in our program’s history. I’ll never forget the feeling of joy and incredible relief. I remember telling our girl’s captain that it was important to win, or that 8-hour bus ride back would have been miserable. But, we returned to Happy Valley as Champions once again!
The first day we got to go to the venue it took my breath away -- it was gorgeous, a big room with our strips and with some press and cameras. I was in complete awe of the whole event. I had a rough first outing in pools with a 2-4 record, which meant that I ended up in the rankings just under the line and so didn’t make it to the next round.
Shanghai was incredible, a very modern city much like New York or Chicago. The great appeal of China was the shopping and the fun of bargaining. I walked away with tons and tons of stuff, paying a fraction of what I would pay in the States. I brought back gifts for my friends and family and received word that I had also made the Team for the Grand Prix World Cup in St. Petersburg Russia. So here I am on a plane in transit through to Russia. Who knows how this will go but I am looking forward to it I just hope they don’t lose my bag again.
Michael El-Saleh
P.S. I just got into St. Petersburg, and yes, unbelievably the airline has lost my fencing bag again. At least I am getting good at filing forms!
Mike El-Saleh
Photo from Penn State website
