Jan. 10, 2016
ST. LOUIS - The Nittany Lions proved to be a triple threat today on the third day of competition at the North American Cup. Three Lions saw top-10 finishes on the day, one coming from the Division I women's epee event and two more coming from the Division I men's sabre event.
Junior captain Jessie Radanovich (Tollhouse, Calif.) lead the women's team on epee, tying for third place in the tournament. While Radanovich was the top performer for the women on the day, all five Penn State women's fencers advanced through pool play to direct elimination.
Freshmen Anastasia Kalonji (Rennes, France), Alissa Hofmann (Cambridge, Mass.) and Nicolette Vigna (Thornwood, N.Y.) finished in 91st, 105th and 126th, respectively. Additionally, senior Jessica O'Neill-Lyublinsky (North Salem, N.Y.) tied for 114th.
Coincidentally, all four women advanced to the second round before being eliminated.
Out of the five women's fencers competing, Hofmann and Vigna were the only two to fence unattached.
The Penn State men also had a stellar campaign today in the Division I men's sabre event, taking home two top-10 spots.
Sophomore Andrew Mackiewicz (Westwood, Mass.) and senior captain Kaito Streets (Redwood City, Calif.) continued the weekend's momentum for the men's team, finishing in sixth and ninth, respectively.
Freshmen Karol Metryka (Linden, N.J.) and Marcel Dolegiewicz (Park Ridge, Ill.) finished today's event only four places apart, coming in at 24th and 28th, respectively. Sophomores Jarrett Lewis (Montclair, N.J.) and Khalil Thompson (Teaneck, N.J.) also finished with similar results. Lewis came in 71st with Thompson tying for 79th.
Freshman Brad Devito ended the day in 126th. Devito fenced unattached along with Lewis and Thompson.
Penn State concludes the January North American Cup tomorrow with the women's sabre event, beginning at 8 a.m. Sophomore Kathryn Charpin (Setauket, N.Y.) will be the sole representative for Penn State in the event.
Check back on GoPSUsports for daily updates on this week's collegiate fencing action. Penn State fans are encouraged to follow Penn State fencing via Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/pennstateFEN, on Penn State Fencing's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pennstatefencing and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/pennstateFEN.