UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Head coach Matteo Zennaro announced senior foilist Spencer Burke and junior épéeist Allegra Cristofoletto as captains of the Penn State fencing team for the upcoming 2026–27 season on Wednesday afternoon.
“Captains have an important responsibility within our program,” Zennaro said. “They help set the tone for the team, lead by example, and represent the values we want to see every day in practice, competition, and outside the fencing room. Allegra and Spencer have shown maturity, consistency, and a strong commitment to their teammates, and I am confident they will have a positive impact on our team throughout the season.”
Spencer Burke | Senior | Foil | San Diego, Calif.
Burke rounded out an impressive junior campaign with a 19th overall finish in men’s foil at the 2026 NCAA National Fencing Championships. The San Diego, Calif. native earned his first nod at the national championships after finishing in sixth place at the South/Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. It marked the highest overall place for the Nittany Lions at regionals last season.
Other notable wins from his collegiate regular season including 2026 Brian Palestis Memorial Invitational at the University of Pennsylvania, 2025 Elite Invititational at Notre Dame, and the 2026 Dave Michanik Penn Inivtational at Ohio State.
Allegra Cristofoletto | Junior | Epee | Treviso, Italy
Cristofoletto completed her sophomore season with a 15th overall finish in women’s epee at the 2026 NCAA National Fencing Championships. The 2026 NCAA National Fencing Championship was the second championship appearance for Cristofoletto after placing 14th at the South/Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. As a freshman, Cristofoletto claimed a ninth-place finish in the 2025 NCAA National Fencing Championships and earned an honorable All-American achievement.
Notable wins from her collegiate regular season career include the 2026 Miller Invitation at New York University, the 2025 Ohio State Elite Invitational at Northwestern University, and 2025 Carla-Mae Richards Invitational at Brown University.
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