Club Information and Schedule

Coaches

Alfred Lara -- Coach, President
Alfred’s fencing pedigree runs long and deep. A former member of the Olympic Team training squad he was the protegee of legendary fencer and Olympic coach Michael D’Asaro, an Olympian and world renown fencing champion. Currently Coach Alfred is a top ranked competitor in the National and International Veteran’s circuit. He trains At the Oregon Fencing Alliance, home to multiple world champions including Olympic Gold Medalist Mariel Zagunis. He combines his fencing, Business Coaching, and youth mentoring skills to communicate effectively with students for optimal fencing skills development and enjoyment.

John Heberling -- Coach, Treasurer
Fulfilling a long-time desire, John began fencing at California Fencing Accademy in San Jose, CA. After teaching classes there, he earned Moniteur certification from USFCA in foil (2009) and epee (2012). He has competed at local, regional and national events, and most recently trained at The Fencing Center, San Jose. After moving to Eugene in the summer of 2018, he joined EFC.

Adam Lake -- Coach
Adam has been fencing since he was 14 back in Cleveland and competed on the varsity team at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. He came to Eugene for graduate school at University of Oregon and fenced at both the university club and EFC. When the UO club coach graduated, Adam took over coaching, leading the team to win 22 medals at the 18 tournaments in the season. He has trained with numerous high level epee coaches from around the world, including France and Hungary, and has competed nationally and internationally over the past 30 years.

EFC club founder, director, and coach Paul McNamara passed away in June, 2023. During his 40 years of fencing, he learned from a number of fencing masters, including national Olympic coaches. Paul earned his coaches' certification in foil, epee, and saber at the Olympic Training Center and through the United States Fencing Coaches Association. He was the face of fencing in the Pacific Northwest. We will honor his memory by continuing the club he devoted his time and energy so selflessly to for 47 years.

Club History

The Eugene Fencers club has a long history, founded in December 1976. It has been and continues to be the enduring fencing community hub of Eugene.

Coach Paul McNamara founded the Eugene Fencers Club (EFC) through the Eugene Parks and Recreation Department. He later added classes for local middle and high school students, as well as students in the Willamalane Park (Springfield) and Bethel School districts.

After a 30-year residency at Roosevelt Middle School, the club moved Northwest Youth Corps up until the Covid 19 pandemic force the club to cease operations.

Dedicated to the promotion of the modern sport of fencing, the Eugene Fencer's Club - a non-profit educational organization and Lane County's oldest fencing program - has taught the art of the "oldest modern sport" under the supervision of qualified instructors to thousands of students.

At EFC, recreational fencers will find an enjoyable, low-pressure sport, while the athlete will improve fencing skills for competition. Instruction at EFC is a program based on the current American training system and is tailored to the level and conditioning of each student. The USFA recognized EFC as an affiliate member since 1984.

Oregon fencers range from kids to adults, recreational level to elite national and international level. Those interested in competing can usually find several competitions for fencers of all ages and weapons each month. Most Pacific Northwest competitions, take place in the Portland and Seattle area.