Grace Choi began her fencing journey alongside her older brother Isaac in 2017, shortly after watching the 2016 Rio Olympics. Throughout her time at NWFC, she stuck with épée and competed at the regional and national level.
Blog Archive
Read more about NWFC Coaches, News and Updates, Resources for Athletes and Parents, and more!
Steliana Strugar
Steliana Strugar is passionate about art, medical science, and fencing! She started her fencing journey at 6 years old, and after being inspired by her brother Marcus, she started competing at the age of 10. Over the years, she’s traveled all over the U.S. for competitions while making life-long memories.
Kevin Du
As Kevin leaves the nest to the University of California San Diego, we wish him continued success in fencing, future internships, and servers that never segfault at the worst possible moment. May his attacks always land, his code compiles on the first try, and his CTF challenges never require guessing.
Nikki Breiling
Nikki’s love for sword fighting began early, but it became a true passion when he started fencing in November 2021. He loves competing in epee at local, regional, and national levels; and one of his proudest accomplishments was earning his A ranking in 2025, a milestone that reflected his hard work and commitment to the sport. While he thrives on competition, what he values most is the enjoyment of fencing and the friendships he has built along the way. He is especially grateful for the coaches and teammates at NWFC, whose support and guidance have made his experience so meaningful.
Sumeru Gowda
Sumeru started fencing in 4th grade alongside his younger brother Suyog, and instantly loved the sport. He has competed in Foil at the regional and national levels. He loves travelling all over the country for competitions and spending time with his teammates at practice, camps, and tournaments. Outside of fencing, Sumeru enjoys robotics, coding, travelling, trying new food, watching sports, and hanging out with friends. Sumeru will attend the University of Maryland this fall. He will be majoring in Computer Science and his goal is to create his own tech startup.
Eric Min
Inspired by the Princess Bride and Star Wars, Eric began his fencing journey at age 7. Since then, he’s fallen in love with traveling and competing. His favorite memories have all come from his supporters, from his parents and coaches to the friends he’s made at summer camps and national events.
Portland Welcomes USA Fencing Summer Nationals
We’re excited to share that Summer Nationals is coming to Portland this year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome athletes, families, and fans to our vibrant city. Portland is known for its incredible food scene, lush outdoor spaces, and creative culture—and we can’t wait for visitors to experience it all.
Coach Patricio Moreno and Parafencing
Para Fencing News! We’re proud to share that Coach Patricio has been serving on the USA Fencing Coaches Association Parafencing Task Force for over a year! Representing Northwest Fencing Center, he’s contributing his expertise to the development of certification...
Fencer Spotlight – Whitman Craig
I like competing locally and I’m excited that Summer Nationals are going to be held in Portland this coming year, so preparing to participate in that is the current goal on the horizon for me.
Open Bouting – Epee Seated Fencing
Interested in learning more about seated fencing? Fencing is for everyone, give us a call to learn more or email the front desk.
Remembering Theresa Volkmann
October 10, 2025 Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that I share with you that my dear wife, Theresa Robb Volkmann, age 61, passed away peacefully early on October 9, 2025 in Reno, Nevada, after her long battle with dementia. Theresa loved the Northwest Fencing...
Anthony Querbach
Anthony Querbach 2025 LEAVING THE NEST SENIORS Anthony has been fencing for a little over 2 years. He started after a debate with a friend from NWFC whether hand-to-hand or fencing would be more useful in a survival situation, and his friend invited Anthony to try out...
Questions?
Find more information about fencing and Northwest Fencing Center on our FAQ page. For more help, contact the Front Desk. Either call during open hours or email us directly and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.









