March 9, 2005

DETROIT - The NCAA Men's and Women's Fencing Committee announced that four Warrior fencers are among the field of a 144 competitors who will participate in the NCAA Fencing Championships at the George R. Brown Convention Center, March 17-20 in Houston, Texas.

The Wayne State fencing team will be sending the maximum two fencers allowed to nationals in women's epee. Senior Anna Vinnikov (Ma'a lot, Israel/ORT Ma'a lot) is making her fourth consecutive trip to the finals. Vinnikov finished with a career-best eighth place at the 2003 NCAA Championships.

Defending national champion Anna Garina (Kiev, Ukraine/Republican School) will be making her second trip to nationals. Garina won the epee championship in 2004 and is the defending women's epee champion at the North American Cup. On Sunday, Garina earned her second straight Midwest Regional Championship by going undefeated in women's epee.

The Warriors will send the maximum two fencers in men's epee.Sophomore Marek Petraszek (Gliwice, Poland/Gliwice) is making his second trip to nationals. Petraszek finished in seventh place at the NCAA meet in 2004. At the Midwest Regional, he finished in third place with an 8-3 record.

Wojciech Dudek (Krakow, Poland/Romaine Jngarden) has made the NCAA field for the second consecutive year. Dudek gave the committee an easier time with its decision by winning the Midwest Regional on Sunday, March 6. Dudek placed 12th at the 2004 NCAA Fencing Championships.

Each school can qualify a maximum of two fencers per weapon. Selections are based on Regional Seeding (40%) and Regional finish (60%).

Each Warrior fencer will compete in a round-robin of 24 fencers in five-touch bouts. After the round-robin, the top four fencers in each event will fence direct elimination 15-touch bouts for first, second, third and fourth place.

WSU will receive points based on individual performances. An institution's place finish in the championships will be based on points earned by each individual. Men's and women's individuals results are combined to crown a team champion. WSU finished in ninth place at the 2004 NCAA Championships.

The Warrior men's epee team will be in action beginning on Thursday, March 17 and conclude on Friday, while the women's epee tandem will return to the strips on Saturday, March 19 and will conclude competition on Sunday.