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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Nineties

The Nineties were an exciting time for the club. With its reputation well established in the world of fencing, the SAFC worked with Une Touché de Portland (UTDP), a benefit corporation and qualified amateur sports organization. The goal of UTDP was to continue the work Yves Auriol’s Portland Project began by supporting fencing athletes and organizations, allowing them to train with SAFC’s best and make use of the facilities the SAFC could provide.

The Eighties

The Eighties at NWFC is when the club settled into its first long-term residency at what is now known as the Sunset Athletic Club. It is here that the school’s fruitful relationships with Chuck Richards, the Oregon Sports Authority, and the Oregon Sports Trust began.

The Seventies

The Seventies was when momentum started building, and more athletes knew of the training center. After commuting regularly from Seattle to Portland to teach fencing, Leon was in need of some assistance. Although Colleen was hoping to convince Leon to move to Portland permanently, he decided to stay in Seattle.

The Sixties

The Sixties at Northwest Fencing Center was when the club first started, sort of. Although it wasn’t quite a fencing club yet, it was gaining the attention of athletes in the Pacific Northwest. In the 1960s, Portland native Colleen Olney was recovering from a car accident, and looking for a sport to help her with the rehabilitation of her injured wrist. She stumbled on fencing, and after a few short sessions, she was enamored. Colleen is the matriarch of the NWFC community.

Grand Opening Celebration

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Grand Opening Celebration at Northwest Fencing Center! We are celebrating 50 years of fencing in Portland! Join us for a celebration! The dedication and hard work of so many fencers, parents, and coaches has produced a stunning new facility.

College Fencers

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College Fencers from the Northwest Fencing Family go off to accomplish amazing things. See more here about where some of our athletes have gone to a university or college to fence.

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