ACADEMICS: Major - Aerospace Engineering
CAREER NOTES:
Academic: Academic All-Big Ten (2024, 2025, 2026)
Athletic: NCAA Qualifier 2026
2026-27 / SENIOR SEASON:
Named the men’s captain for his 2026-27 senior season.
2025-26 / JUNIOR SEASON:
Burke started most of the season for the men’s foil squad. He finished his junior campaign with a 39-19 regular-season record, including notable wins over Ohio State and Notre Dame at the 2025 Elite Invitational. At the 2026 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional Championships at Haverford College, Burke earned the highest overall finish for the Nittany Lions, placing 6th, which sent him to the NCAA National Fencing Championships at Notre Dame, where he placed 19th overall in men’s foil.
2024-25 / SOPHOMORE SEASON:
Posted a 9-11 overall record as a sophomore. Burke competed in the 2025 Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals at Drew University, where he earned 21st overall in men’s foil.
2023-24 / FRESHMAN SEASON:
In his freshman season, Burke finished in 28th place at the October NAC and 12th place out of 354 in junior men's foil at the November NAC. He also placed 19th at the Garret Open and went 15-4 in the semi-finals at the Nikki Franke Classic, taking 3rd.
HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Placed 2nd at Cadet Pan American Championships (2022)
- Placed 6th in Junior men’s foil at Junior Olympics (2022)
- Placed 10th in Cadet men’s foil (2022)
- Placed 11th at Paris CEP (2022)
- Placed 7th in Junior men’s foil at Junior Olympics (2021)
- Placed 6th in Cadet men’s foil at July Challenge (2021)
- Placed 3rd in Cadet men’s foil at June NAC (2021)
PERSONAL:
Spencer Burke was born and raised in San Diego, Calif., and attended West Hills High School. Burke competed as a foil fencer on his high school’s fencing team, as well as on junior and cadet teams during his collegiate career at Penn State. Burke chose Penn State because of the support they provide for student-athletes and athletic programs and for its engineering program. Parents are Daryl-Lynn Burke and Thomas Burke… sister is Morgan Burke.
CAREER STATS:
|
Season |
Wins |
Losses |
.PCT |
|
2023-24 |
|||
|
2024-25 |
9 |
11 |
.450 |
|
2025-26 |
39 |
19 |
.672 |
|
2026-27 |
|
|
|
|
Career |
|
|
|