Freshmen Kateryna Chorniy and Peter Kambeseles were excited to make their Penn State fencing debuts earlier this month. Since last competing in March of 2020, Kateryna and Peter have been routinely practicing, without really knowing what to expect.
"Usually, I'm pretty nervous and excited before a competition, but before this meet I was only excited," said Kateryna. Being from the Ukraine, competing collegiately in the United States was a totally new experience for her.
Entering Penn State, Kateryna and Peter were used to a typical competition format, consisting of two rounds: preliminary and elimination. However, the collegiate format is slightly different, and the only of its kind. "Obviously, the fencing is the same, but the format is different," explains Peter.
Kateryna likes this format because each bout requires her full concentration for a shorter period of time. Now that Kateryna and Peter have been able to experience their first collegiate fencing competitions, they both feel more comfortable with the format and are looking forward to future meets. "I'm going to be able to learn and get better from here," says Peter.
Competing on the road at the Ohio State Invitational gave Kateryna and Peter the opportunity to bond with their teammates and learn together. While they've traveled a lot throughout their fencing careers before college, Kateryna and Peter had a lot of fun traveling alongside their fellow Penn Staters for the first time. This was also an exciting adjustment for Peter, who is also a member of the Greek National Team.
The team comradery is what makes Penn State Fencing so special, and the enthusiastic team spirit is something Kateryna and Peter have never really experienced before. "This meet was not about experience for me but about the spirit of the team," said Kateryna.
With continuous support from their teammates, they are focused on winning and proudly representing Penn State. "When you score a touch to win a bout and you turn around, you're screaming and the rest of the team behind you is screaming. That's one of the best feelings," shares Peter.
While this year's season is shorter than years past, Kateryna and Peter are excited for what the remainder of their collegiate careers will entail. They are hopeful that the Nittany Lions will be able to finish this season even stronger than it started.
