CollegeFencing360.com is completing research for a tribute story to Dave Micahnik, who recently announced his retirement following 35 years as the head fencing coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Based on CF360's preliminary research, it appears that only two current coaches – North Carolina's Ron Miller (42 years) and Yale's Henry Harutunian (40) – have been directing the same NCAA varsity men's fencing program longer than Micahnik (Nikki Franke just completed her 37th season as head coach of the Temple women's fencing team).
Penn produced numerous elite fencers during the Micahnik era, including recent foilist Ron Berkowsky – one of only eight fencers nationwide to be a four-year, first-team All-American (top-4/medal round) during the current decade. Berkowsky was the NCAA runner-up in 2007 and '08, after placing fourth in 2005 and third in '06. The other seven on that exclusive list of four-time NCAA medal-round fencers include: St. John's men's epeeist Alex Roytblatt ('98-'01) and sabreist Ivan Lee (2000-03); Penn State women's epeeist Stephanie Eim ('99-'02) and men's foilist Non Panchan ('01-'04); Notre Dame women's foilist Alicja Kryczalo ('02-'05), Wayne State women's epeeist Anna Garina ('04-'07) and Columbia women's sabreist Emily Jacobson ('05-'08).
More to come about this special group, along with others who have repeated (2-/3-time) as medal-round fencers over the past 10 years. CF360 also soon will post its full tribute to Micahnik's 35-year career at Penn, including lists and details about similar coaches who have reached 25 or 30 years at the same school. The website also will be taking a look at various offseason fencing topics – and will be tracking college fencers involved in various national and international events during the late-spring/summer months.