In Fencing, Both Penn State Teams Are No. Since Emmanuil Kaidanov took over as head coach 28 years ago, Penn State fencing has quietly become one of the most decorated collegiate programs in the country, producing 12 national championships and more than 170 All Americans. In tenure, Kaidanov has outlasted any current N.F.L., N.B.A., N.H.L., baseball or college football head coach. This season, both the men's and women's teams are ranked No. The men went 5-0 last weekend at the Duke Duals, improving to a 15-4 record. The women have also been dominant, and are 16-3 after a 4-0 victory in Durham. Kaidanov has made the Penn State program an international one. Junior Daniel Gomez-Tanamachi (foil), from Mexico City, is en route to become the ninth Olympian under Kaidanov's tutelage. The men's team is led by three-time All American and team captain Aleksander Ochocki (saber), who is 29-7 this season. At Duke last weekend, Michael El-Saleh (foil) reached 13-2, establishing him as the second winningest male foil fencer in Penn State history. Women's captain Margherita Guzzi Vincenti (epee), from Milan, has handily defeated almost every opponent this season, pacing the team with a 35-6 record. The junior's most impressive performance came at home on Jan. 28, when she lit up Temple, North Carolina, Penn and Haverford for an 11-1 record on the day. Guzzi Vincenti did not compete at the Duke Duals because of illness, but senior Monica Aksamit (saber) picked up where she left off. Aksamit entered the day with a 28-7 record, and left with seven more wins and one loss. The team has another national championship as its goal. Penn State came six points short of a three-peat last season, ultimately losing to Notre Dame. After victories, Kaidanov can be spotted slowly pacing the gym with an expression of disappointment on his face. He is already mentally plotting his next practice in an effort to turn near perfect into perfect. Penn State will face Duke, St. John's, Princeton, Temple and Penn in Philadelphia on Feb. 25. Two regional tournaments will follow and then the team will pursue a 13th national championship in late March in San Antonio. Matt Bufano covers Penn State's fencing team for The Daily Collegian.