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FENCING Nittany Lions place fourth at NCAA championships Six fencers from host Penn State claimed All-America notice at the NCAA championships, which took place March 22-25 at the Multi-Sport Facility. Zara Moss was the Nittany Lions' high- est 9nisher of the tournament, placing second in women's saber. Teammate Karen Chang was third in the same event. Another freshman, Lodovica Bicego 9n- ished 9:h in women's foil, while Barbara VanBenthuysen was eighth in women's epee. Moss, a freshman from Cranberry Township, Pa., told GoPSUSports.com that while she went into the tournament hoping for a championship, she was pleased to 9nish so high in only her 9rst season. "I have three more years to do this," she said. "The experience I've gained the last two days has been amazing. I know that I'm a stronger fencer now, and I'm that much more prepared for next year." On the men's side, senior Andrew Mackiewicz placed third in the saber, while junior Karol Metryka was seventh. Mackiewicz 9nished rounds four and 9ve with a 16-7 record but fell to eventual champion Eli Dershwitz of Harvard in the semi9nals. Dershwitz went 23-0 during the tournament. Even though he wasn't able to claim a national championship in front of the home crowd, Mack- iewicz told GoPSU- Sports.com that he felt he had competed as hard as he could. "Being my last year, I wanted to give it my all on the strip," the Westwood, Mass., native said. "I wouldn't want it any other way. Obviously, everyone wants to win, but there are ups and downs, and I think [Dershwitz] did really well out there and deserved it today." Penn State 9nished the tournament in fourth place with 137 points. Notre Dame won the team competition with 185 points, with Columbia/Barnard 9nishing second with 170 and Ohio State third with 147. "We took fourth since we were short two people. There were 9ve other univer- sities with 10 fencers, and we were the best of all of them," Penn State coach Wes Glon said. "I'm happy we 9nished fourth and grabbed a trophy. I'm looking forward to next year as always." Mackiewicz said he hopes the team can continue to develop and reach new heights a:er he graduates. "There's a lot of improvement, and that means that the team can still strive to do better," he said. "Obviously, we always want to win, and from here the team has to focus. Hopefully, I le: the team on a good note and everyone works hard. I'm really looking forward to the success [that Penn State] has individually and as a team in the future." The NCAA championships will return to University Park in 2021. ■ ALL SPORTS Wrestlers boost PSU in Directors' Cup Powered by the wrestling team's seventh NCAA championship in the past eight years, Penn State is holding onto the No. 2 spot in the Lear9eld Directors' Cup standings. In the first Directors' Cup winter sports compilation, Penn State re- mained No. 2, where it finished last fall. The Nittany Lions improved from the No. 4 spot in the 2016-17 initial winter rankings. Penn State has an opportunity to earn its 12th consecutive top-five finish in the Directors' Cup final winter stand- ings. Stanford leads the Directors' Cup and is followed by Penn State (629.75), Wisconsin (585), Southern Cal (507), Michigan (503), North Car- olina State (494.5), Virginia Tech (430.5) UCLA (425), Texas (423.5) and Ohio State (416). Penn State is among only nine in- stitutions nationwide to have 9n- ished in the top 25 in all 24 Directors' Cup 9nal standings. ■ DUEL MEET Penn State fencer Sebas- tiano Bicego takes on Penn's William Upbin in the first round of the foil competition. Photo by Patrick Mansell

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