By WAYLON GALVEZ
Samantha Catantan’s dream to become one of Asia’s best players starts today (Tuesday in the US) as she trains with her Penn State University teammates 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.
On the eve of Day 1 of training with the Nittany Lions, Catantan said she is reminded by the purpose of her journey despite being away from family and friends.
She said that she is constantly communicating with her parents – Ronaldo Catantan Jr. and Ailene – as well as her coaches in the national team led by Amat Canlas when she needs advice.
“They always say to me to remember my purpose here and train hard gaya ng ginagawa ko sa Philippines,” said Catantan, the first ‘homegrown’ fencer to be given an athletic scholarship by a Division 1 school in the US NCAA.
Penn State U is a powerhouse in the tournament having won record 13 championships, although the last one came in the 2014-15 Season.
Two years ago, they settled for runners up to Columbia-Barnard before the 2020 Season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This time, organizers are looking at holding it this March in Pennsylvania.
Catantan said that she is not the only foreign player recruited by Penn State U last year. Her teammate and ‘form’ partner is from Ukraine, and like her, they were recruited after a strong showing in the World Junior Fencing Championship in Poland two years ago.
“Karamihan po nga mga kasama ko international student-athletes din,” said Catantan, also the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the Asian Under-23 back in 2019.
An incoming freshman after she graduated with honors as student-athlete of University of the East, Catantan will also start her studies at Penn State U today (Tuesday in the US).
She said that her options are still open on what course to take although she is considering taking a course that is in line with business, saying: “I’ll take either finance or accounting.”
“Online class naman po although we have one subject po na in person, but that starts sometime in February,” she said.
