History

Browse the archives of NWFC milestones, moves, and much more

History at NWFC has always been an important part of the club’s atmosphere since the club first opened its doors in 1971. Through a few changes and many accomplishments by its athletes, NWFC has managed to become quite acknowledged.

Northwest Fencing Center’s history spans nearly five decades, becoming the premier training and competition facility it is today because of the dedication and faith of many. With such deep roots, we are proud to be part of the legacy of fencing in Oregon.

Read on to learn how our story began, how we’ve grown throughout the years, and what the future could hold.

Grace Choi

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.

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.

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...

Yves Auriol

The following tribute is dedicated to Yves Auriol written by Robert & Suzanne Marx: Early in Yves Auriol’s athletic career he had a choice between rugby or fencing.  He went the professional rugby route. Thus, explaining the bowed legs and the crooked nose. Rugby...

The Future

The Future at Northwest Fencing Center has a bright outlook, at our new location! In the Spring of 2022, we officially moved into our new facility. After expanding our past location on SW Western rd by 7,000 square feet, the owner of the property decided to sell the land. Although unideal, our new location space is being built specifically to our needs. As fencers, we know how rare that is!

The 2000s

The 2000s was when the official inauguration of Northwest Fencing Center (“NWFC”) took place. Our training had expanded rapidly, calling for some changes and additions. Beginning in 2001, NWFC began to expand and refine what we offered our athletes.  We added group classes built around age and aptitude, classes for homeschool groups, and adult instruction. NWFC continues to offer these course options today.

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