Andy Gottesman/The LanternSophomore Colin Sutter attacks during the OSU Duals. The Buckeyes swept the meet with a combined score of 22-0.


Inhibited by language barriers, the first meeting between Archie Griffin and Ohio State fencing coach Vladimir Nazlymov was brief.

“Immediately, [Griffin] asked, ‘Can we be top three and in how long?’,” Nazlymov said.

Nazlymov assured Griffin, then the associate director of Athletics, that it would take a maximum of fours years, and if not they would shake hands and part ways.

A common language was not necessary for the two to reach an understanding on their expectations for the program; Nazlymov could see it in Griffin’s eyes.

“It was in his face, his eyes and how he asked,” Nazlymov said. “How he looked, in a way, I knew he understood me.”

Griffin’s faith in Nazlymov has been rewarded. Ten years following their first meeting, Nazlymov’s program has become the gold standard for fencing excellence.

With appearances at the NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2008, the program’s first since 1942, OSU is now the destination of aspiring fencers across the globe and a breeding ground for Olympic teams.

Nazlymov has produced four Olympians during his tenure, and his defending national champions are led by two athletes with visions of London in the summer of 2012.

Andras Horanyi, the two-time defending NCAA foil champion, was the first alternate for the U.S. team in Beijing this summer. Because of a technicality that prevented the U.S. from entering the standard team of four competitors, Horanyi, in spite of a second-place finish in an Olympic qualifier, was unable to participate. Knowing that first place is the only way to ensure a trip to London in four years, Nazlymov likes Horanyi’s chances.

“He will for sure make it,” Nazlymov said.

Nazlymov is certain. Although he strives to prepare his athletes to qualify for the Olympics, his goals for Horanyi far exceed such pedestrian expectations.

“We are working with him and talking about what he needs to medal,” Nazlymov said. “After 2008, it’s not enough [just] to make the team.”

Although quietly confident, Horanyi will leave the brash declarations to his coach.

“I’m the favorite, usually, but it’s a sport and anything can happen,” Horanyi said.

Men’s captain Mikhail Momtselidze’s story lends credibility to Horanyi’s reservation. Momtselidze, too, had a ticket to Beijing in his grasp, only to lose it as the result of a fallible electronic scoring system. Momtselidze was defeated in his qualifying bout by a single touch, the equivalent of one point, a touch that Nazlymov believes was earned.

“He made the touch, but unfortunately because of the electronic system [he was not awarded the point],” Nazlymov said. “The opponent shook his hand like [the opponent] lost the match.”

Although the men’s team has experience to draw upon, the women’s side lacks comparable senior leadership.

Sophomore Oksana Dmytruk returns as the reigning NCAA silver medalist in the women’s foil competition. Joining Dmytruk to create a formidable foil duo is junior Lindsay Knauer, a 2008 second-team All-American.

In spite of the presence of the two known commodities, Dmytruk and Knauer, the catalyst behind a successful women’s season might be the performance of injured sophomore Falencia Miller. Miller, currently targeting a January return, assumes the charge of replacing two All-American fencers in women’s sabre, Eileen Grench and Siobhan Byrne, the latter being a member of Ireland’s 2008 Olympic Team.

“She’s inspiring. She’s such a fighter in competition,” Knauer said of Miller. “She’s great for the team and brings a lot to it.”

To defend their national title, the Buckeyes will need Miller, as well as contributions from an unusually large freshman class.

Knauer doesn’t anticipate growing pains for the young team, provided they maintain their focus.

“As long as everyone on the team has the same work ethic, it will be fine.” Knauer said.

The freshman class was on display Saturday at the OSU Duals and looked impressive in sweeping all 11 rounds of both the men’s and women’s competitions.

James Pallitto can be reached at [email protected].