Sept. 26, 2012
University Park, Pa. - The Penn State men's and women's fencing teams will host their annual Alumni/Alumnae exhibition meet this Saturday, Sept. 29, in the White Building. The event will pit accomplished alumni against current team members and begins at 11 a.m.
Aleksander Ochocki, reigning national champion, will return to Penn State to compete in the Alumni Meet. Ochocki won NCAA National Championship titles in 2009 and 2012 in men's saber. He was also team captain for two consecutive years during his time as a Nittany Lion.
Another notable alumni returning to participate will be former Olympian Tom Strzalkowski. During his years at Penn State, Strzalkowski won three consecutive men's saber National Championships ('92 - '94) under Nittany Lion head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov. He is currently the owner and coach of the Fencing Academy of Denver.
Olga Kalinovskaya will also participate in the exhibition meet. Kalinovskaya won four consecutive women's foil National Championships ('93-'96) under Kaidanov as well.
The Penn State fencing teams will open their season on Saturday Oct. 27 at the Temple Open in Philadelphia. The first home event for the teams will be the Garrett Open, which is set for Nov. 3-4.