Catantan makes it to US NCAA 2024
FILIPINO fencer Samantha Catantan of Penn State University has moved to the championship stage of the US NCAA Fencing meet next week after entering the Top 7 by finishing second overall in the Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals on Saturday, March 9, at Drew University in New Jersey.
Catantan posted a win-loss record of 7-4 in the third round as she finished behind Charlotte Koenig of Duke University (8-3), and ahead of University of Pennsylvania’s Katina Ortiz Proestakis and Sabrina Cho, who both had 7-4 cards but Catantan had better index.
A fourth year accounting studentathlete of PSU and the first “homegrown” fencer from the Philippines to earn full athletic scholarship in a US NCAA Division 1 school, Catantan will be making her fourth straight trip to the big stage on March 21 to 24 at the French Field House in Columbus, Ohio.
“Literally … if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it,” said Catantan in a message exchange with The Manila Times.
“I’m just so blessed and grateful to have the best support system. Especially to everyone, who helped me get through this tough year — but for now, all I could say … I’m very happy to be back,” added the 22-year-old Catantan, a member of the Philippine Fencing Team.
Catantan persevered after dealing with a left knee surgery last June. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the semifinal round of the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia almost a year ago but pushed herself to the limit to regain her deadly form.
Catantan, a champion fencer during her high school days at University of the East playing in the UAAP under former national team coach Rolando “Amat” Canlas, first earned a spot in the regionals with solid performances in two dual meets, recording a 9-2 slate in the Northwestern Duals in Evanston, Illinois last January and a 9-4 slate at Temple University.
A total of 46 fencers participated in the regionals tournament, and after earning a bye in the first round pooling, Catantan won three of five bouts in the second round and a similar 3-2 slate in the final 18 of three pools third round — enough to secure her spot in a single pool of 12 fencers.