A total of 89 fencers from Tigard competed in the world's largest fencing tournament during a 10-day span from June 27 to July 6.

Northwest Fencing Center (NWFC) in Tigard sent a group of athletes to the 2026 USA Fencing National Championships, held at Portland's Oregon Convention Center.

The Greenburg Road club accounted for a sizable share of the more than 6,100 fencers from 46 states who traveled to Portland for the competition in foil, saber and epee. Participants ranged from 7 to 89 years old.

Individual results for NWFC's competitors have not yet been published.

Bryan Wendell of USA Fencing said the event dwarfs anything held in traditional fencing powerhouses. "Even some of the big fencing nations like China, France and Italy don't hold fencing tournaments nearly this large," Wendell told Oregon Public Broadcasting. He estimated the tournament generated roughly $10 million for Portland as thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and families filled local hotels, restaurants and shops.

Among the NWFC contingent was coach and fencing master Patricio Moreno, who competed in the men's 40-plus foil event. Moreno spent 13 years on Chile's national team and once ranked 26th in the world. He earned a bronze medal at the 2006 Havana World Cup and won South American and Pan-American titles before moving to the U.S.

He also coaches fencers as young as 7 years old at the Tigard facility, including his son.

Moreno said the sport's appeal is visceral.

"It's the only combat sport without body contact," he said. "You have the feeling that you're in a fight with someone and you're thinking, 'It's me or him.'"

Head coach Simon Abram said the Portland area has deep roots in fencing. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis and 2024 Olympian Magda Skarbonkiewicz both grew up training in the region. According to USA Fencing, the national championships also serve as a qualifying path toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, raising the stakes for the club's top competitors.

NWFC, a nonprofit founded in 1972, moved to its purpose-built facility at 11117 SW Greenburg Road in 2022. The club has more than 200 fencers and held a pre-nationals camp June 22-25 to prepare its athletes for the tournament.