APPLETON, Wis. -- Jordan Diacos has spent his first season with the Lawrence University fencing team testing himself against some great NCAA competition from around the nation.
    Now he gets to take on the best from this side of the planet.
    A first-year student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Diacos is set to compete for Team Canada in the Junior Pan American Games later this week. The Junior Pan Am Games feature teams from 41 nations competing in Bogota, Colombia, through March 6.
    "In Colombia I hope to get two medals as last year I got one in teams only," Diacos said. "It's a high-level event with world-class fencers, and competing in these events is part of what gives me my edge against collegiate athletes."
    Diacos, who competes in saber, was part of the Canadian contingent at the 2022 Junior and Cadet Pan American Zonal Championships in Lima, Peru. He went from there to compete at the 2022 Junior and Cadet World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 
    "I've been working to make Team Canada all year and in all honesty, prior to coming to Lawrence and working with (Lawrence coach) Eric (Momberg), it didn't look like I'd make it," Diacos said. "I made the team with one really good result where I came (in the) top 16 in North America. I've always been a Team Canada contender, but in recent years it's been really tight so to make it this year was awesome."
    Diacos has a 29-14 record this season and is coming off a 7-2 weekend at the Central Collegiate Fencing Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
    Diacos and his saber teammates won the conference title as the Vikings compiled the best record with a 30-6 mark in the four dual matches. Lawrence posted key 6-3 victories over both Ohio State and Wayne State and compiled 9-0 shutouts against both Detroit Mercy and Cleveland State. Aaron Reese had the top mark on the day for the Vikings with an 8-1 record, and the Vikings got a big contribution from Clarence Murzyn with a 4-2 record. Ben Kelsey, Tim Parker and Donovin Brown all picked up wins for the Vikings as well. 
    "I feel that I'm in a really good place having just come from being conference champions, and I have to thank Eric and the team for getting me ready," Diacos said. "It's been a great season for all of us, and I'm wicked excited to see where this goes."
    Momberg said Diacos made an immediate impact on the team.
    "Jordan is a talented athlete with a positive attitude who has been driving our program forward since the moment he set foot on campus," said Momberg, who is in third season at Lawrence. "He will have the opportunity to represent his country and fence the top athletes in the Pan American zone. It's the type of event that only comes along a few times in an athlete's career and can create memories that last a lifetime."

Lawrence's saber contingent won the title at the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Championships.