Coaching Staff
Our dedicated coaching staff ensures fencers who train with us are given the best instruction possible in a friendly, challenging environment
Simon Abram
Simon comes from a family with four fencing masters. He has been fencing since he was seven years old and started to coach at 14. He got his first coaching degree when he was 16. In 2006, at 21, he became the youngest fencing master in France. From 2005 to 2008, he coached in Aix-en-Provence, France and in 2009 he joined the NWFC coaching staff.
When he was 17, Simon joined the National Training Center of Aix en Provence. He represented France at several World Cups for three years. Lionel Plumenail was his fencing master. In 2005, he joined Erwann Le Pechoux and Marcel Marcilloux in Aix-en-Provence’s Division 1 Foil Team.
In 2009, he joined the NWFC’s Division 1 Foil Team and won the US National Team Championship. In 2011, he joined the NWFC’s Senior Epee Team and won US National Team Championship.
When not fencing, he likes riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and he is a very dedicated Star Wars fan.
Michael McTigue
Coach McTigue began his fencing career under the supervision of Hungarian Maestro Csaba Elthes. Later he studied under renowned Russian epee Maestro Albert Chikayev, trainer of multiple world and Olympic champions. He was Michael’s mentor and developed him into a coach as well as a championship winning veteran epee fencer.
Coach McTigue was Head Coach of the Montclair High School Fencing Team for 12 years. His boys and girls epee squads won four state team championships, two individual championships, and his students have gone on to fence in NCAA team competition at Columbia, Yale, Brandeis, Duke, Penn State, Notre Dame and other notable institutions. He was voted High School Fencing Coach of the Year four times and was given the NJSIAA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to New Jersey high school fencing. The former head coach of Lilov Fencing Academy and Salem Fencing Club, he is pleased to be making the shift to NWFC.
Coach McTigue excels at customizing lessons to help fencers build skills and understanding. By teaching his students productive ways to think about fencing their learning continues beyond the lesson into their bouting and workouts. This approach is rewarding for both the recreational and competitive fencer. Michael believes that all fencers should set their goals with the input and support of their coaches and families. This dovetails precisely with the NWFC family approach to developing fencers and the community that we all value so highly.
Daniel Volkmann
Daniel started fencing in 2009 in Reno, Nevada. He has seven national medals ranging from 2nd place to 7th place. He moved to Portland in 2015 after visiting for a few months. He started coaching by assisting at NWFC in the Youth 1 program in 2016. In 2017 he tested to get his moniteur in both foil and epee. In 2017 he joined the NWFC staff as a youth coach, and has since taken the position of Assistant Epee Coach.
He has fenced competitively on the regional, and national circuit since 2011. Although he is currently an epee fencer, he started his fencing career in saber.
Outside of fencing, Daniel enjoys reading sci-fi books, jogging and watching movies.
Gregory Mitberg
Gregory started fencing at NWFC when he was just five years old! He competed on the European cadet and junior circuits from 2013 to 2017 and began on the international senior circuit in 2015. With 4 top 8 finishes in the national scene, Gregory has made his name as a consistently strong national fencer. He began working as a coach on the East coast before coming back home to Portland and NWFC. Gregory balances training, coaching education, and academic studies in between traveling to fencing competitions.
Gregory is currently pursuing his coaching certification to continue being a part of NWFC in the future. Gregory’s hobbies include fantasy map making, Starcraft II, and reading.
Will Richmond
Administration
Meet the dedicated staff working beyond the fencing strips to keep the center running smoothly.
Lika Vogler
Lika specializes in member accounts and leads the services at the front desk.
Erin Hambleton
Erin’s focus is on club communications, social media and special events.