Dec. 8, 2008

Wayne State University junior Slava Zingerman received his national champion ring from WSU President Jay Noren on Saturday during the 2008 Istvan Danosi/Michigan Open held at the Matthaei Building on the WSU campus.

Joining Dr. Noren and Slava Zingerman, are WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier (far right) and head fencing coach Jerzy Radz (far left).

Last March, Zingerman became the first NCAA epeeist to win back-to-back national titles since Colulmbia's Jon Normile in 1988-89. He was also the third WSU men's epeeist to win back-to-back national titles joining Ettore Bianchi (1984-85) and Gil Pezza (1980-81).

He compiled a 15-8 mark (+22 in touches) during round-robin competition at the NCAA Championship, then defeated Stanley Vaksman from St. John's, 15-8, in a semifinal bout and Penn State's Arth Urman, 15-7, in the national championship bout.

A year earlier, Zingerman captured the 2007 NCAA national title as he defeated Benjamin Bratton of St. John's, 15-13, in the title bout.