Published January 19, 2021, 1:47 PM Sam Catantan reacts after one of her wins in last year’s World Junior Fencing Championship in Poland. (Photo Courtesy of Canlas Fencing Academy) Filipino fencer Samantha Catantan begins her training with teammates as the fencing team of Penn State University formally opens practice Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in preparation for the 2021 US NCAA tournament. “I’m so excited to meet the whole team and to fence with others as well,” said Catantan, who turns 19 on February 1, in a message to Manila Bulletin Tuesday (Monday night in the US). On the eve of Day 1 of training with the Nittany Lions, Catantan said she is always reminded of the purpose of the journey she is having now despite being away from family and friends.