Columbus, OH (U-WIRE) -- The Ohio State fencing team travels to New York University for an NCAA dual meet this Saturday. This will be the first OSU meet since 2003 for junior Jason Rogers who competed last year as a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

"It's not easy to get back into the style of college fencing," Rogers said. "You fight in more shorter bouts which are more mentally draining."

The NYU dual meet will feature some of the best teams in NCAA fencing including Columbia, Notre Dame and St. John's, a team that handed the OSU men's team their first loss last season.

"The meet is going to be like a practice," said coach Vladimir Nazlymov. "So far everything looks good, but we need to see if there are any corrections we'll need to make after this weekend."

Last weekend junior Adam Crompton took the gold medal at the North American Cup, an individual event held in Kansas City, KS, but he doesn't see how a past performance will help prepare him for the NYU meet.

"Last weekend means nothing," said Crompton, two-time NCAA champion. "When you compete from one competition to the next, all that matters is how you feel that day."

Rogers and sophomore Boaz Ellis also boosted their national ranking on the men's side at the North American Cup. Freshmen Amelia Gaillard and Eileen Grench along with senior Hanna Thompson did the same for the women.

Rogers, however, admittedly struggled.

"Strategically, I thought I fenced really well," Rogers said. "But I just couldn't get the light on as much as I wanted."

The women's team suffered a setback this week after freshman Alexandra O'Brazcova, who competed on the Latvian national team before coming to OSU, injured her foot.

She will have surgery and be held out of competition for six weeks, Nazlymov said.

"Injuries happen," Nazlymov said. "So this is going to be a test for our entire team. When something like this happens, we find out what our reserves can do."

Nazlymov's goal for his team is still a successful defense of their national championship.

"I still think we're the best team in NCAA fencing," Nazlymov said. "We're going to stay around and keep fighting."

(C) 2004 The Lantern via U-WIRE