UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) girl’s fencing star Sam Catantan is headed to Penn State College to represent the prestigious school in the US NCAA Division I.
Catantan was the most dominant junior athlete—six-time champion and five-time Most Valuable Player—in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) fencing tournament.
She helped UE win a ninth straight girls’ crown in Season 82, her last season in the league.
Catantan said she earned her spurs by simply heeding her coach’s instructions.
“I just always listen to my coach and train everyday—and to be always humble,” Catantan said.
Behind Catantan’s heroic, UE rallied past University of Santo Tomas, 45-44, in the girls’ team saber final to complete a six-gold sweep with a 45-30 win also over UST in the girls’ team epee final.
An Asian U23 gold medalist, Catantan emerged as the MVP once more, leaving a lasting legacy for the Junior Warriors’ program.
“She is going places—from UE to UAAP and now to the US NCAA,” UE Coach Amatov Canlas said. “It’s not only Penn State which is interested in Sam, there are many more.”