HOUSTON – The 2025 USA Fencing Summer Nationals took place in Milwaukee just a few weeks ago, and a few local Houston-area fencers took home the gold and national titles!
The event itself is the largest fencing tournament in the world, and amongst the biggest tournaments in Olympic & Paralympic sport combined.
Fencing has been part of every modern Olympic games since they began in 1896, known for being as much mental as it is physical—requiring lightning-fast decision-making, strategy, and anticipation.
There are three types of fencing weapons—foil, épée, and sabre—each with different rules, target areas, and strategies.
Alliance Fencing Academy and its fencers secured a total of 15 medals at Summer Nationals 2025, which is quite the feat in the fencing world!
Watch as Lauren Kelly catches up with Head Coach Andrey Geva, and athletes:
- Alliance Fencing Academy Team: GOLD in Senior Team Men’s Epee (Alexander Fray, Anton Piskovatskov, Will East, Stewart Lee)
- Stewart Lee, 8th place - Junior Men’s Epee
- James Sennewald, Jr. World Team member
- CJ Tolsma: GOLD in Cadet and 6th in Junior Women’s Epee
- Avni Shiv: 5th, Junior Women’s Epee
- Aiden Zhang: 6th, Youth-10 Men’s Epee