March 26, 2018
By Erin Neri, GoPSUsports.com student staff writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Four-time All-American Andrew Mackiewicz capped his collegiate career with a semifinal appearance on the final day of the NCAA fencing national championships.
Mackiewicz finished rounds four and five Sunday with a 16-7 record to qualify for the semifinals. It was Harvard fencer Eli Dershwitz who stopped him from reaching the championship bout. Dershwitz earned a perfect 23-0 overall record and eventually went on to claim the 2018 national title in the saber.
Even though he didn't get the result he was hoping for, Mackiewicz, who said he never even imagined winning a national title when he got to Penn State, is at peace leaving Happy Valley knowing he gave it everything he had.
"Being my last year, I wanted to give it my all on the strip," Mackiewicz said. "I wouldn't want it any other way, obviously everyone wants to win but there's ups and downs and I think [Dershwitz] did really well out there and deserved it today."
Mackiewicz's teammate in the saber, junior Karol Metryka also achieved success Sunday, with a seventh-place finish in the tournament. Metryka ended rounds four and five with a 15-8 overall record, earning All-America honors as well as a spot on the podium.
Metryka placed ninth in the NCAA tournament his sophomore season in addition to a first-place finish in Mid-Atlantic/Southern Regionals. The junior also earned two third place finishes at Regionals this year and his freshman season.
With Mackiewicz departing, he feels confident he is leaving the future of the team in good hands, especially with a skilled fencer like Metryka behind him.
"[Metryka] is very devoted to the sport," Mackiewicz said. "He's one of the top guys in region competition and he's going to continue to improve."
With the honor of hosting the NCAA Championships, teams from across the country filled Penn State's Multi-Sport facility for the four-day event For many senior Nittany Lions, like Mackiewicz, it meant one final time to wear the blue and white in front of a home crowd.
During his time as a Nittany Lion, Mackiewicz won two NCAA national titles as both a freshman and a sophomore. The senior is also leaving with three Mid-Atlantic/Southern Regional Championship wins.
Although Mackiewicz's fencing career will certainly continue past Penn State, the Olympic hopeful says nothing will compare to his last collegiate bout.
"I am very happy for myself that I was able to give everything I got today in front of a home crowd," Mackiewicz said. "Everyone has been supporting me for so long and I'm very glad to make them happy with my performance."
Moving forward, Mackiewicz hopes the team can continue to develop and reach new heights after he graduates.
"There's a lot of improvement, that means that the team can still strive to do better," Mackiewicz said. "Obviously we always want to win and from here the team has to focus. Hopefully I left the team on a good note and everyone works hard. I'm really looking forward to the success the team has individually and as a team in the future."