Forge Shines in Portland
Portland, Oregon became the epicenter of the fencing world from June 27 to July 6, as over 5,000 competitors descended upon the city for the 2026 Summer Nationals. Among them, the Forge Fencing team delivered a series of high-octane performances, showcasing the depth and tenacity of our North Carolina athletes.
The tournament opened with a script straight out of a Hollywood movie. North Carolina legend Erica Julien staged a miraculous comeback in the Vet-80 Women's Sabre. After a challenging pool round where she failed to secure a single victory, Julien flipped the switch in the elimination bracket, storming through the field to claim the National Championship title.
Erica JULIEN is pictured here working towards her historic gold being coached by Sky MILLER.
Simultaneously, Junior Women’s Sabre fencer Neema JOHNSON made a triumphant return to the national stage. After a year-long hiatus, Johnson battled through a massive field of 265 fencers to secure a 50th-place finish, highlighted by a gritty direct elimination performance to break into the Top 64. Teammate and graduating senior Ava ELLIS-FURLONG followed closely behind, finishing a strong 79th.
Emma MING showcased her immense potential. MING finished 56th out of 264 competitors in a highly competitive Y-14 event and later in the week 30th in the Division women's sabre II event.
Neema JOHNSON climbing the Junior Women’s Sabre rankings.
The momentum continued in the Division I events. Matthew CHAVES posted a stellar 5-1 record in pools in Men’s Sabre before finishing 69th. In Women’s Sabre Division I-A, Daisy GUO led the charge for Forge with an impressive 48th-place finish out of 166 qualifiers. Ava ELLIS-FURLONG added another Top 64 performance to her resume, placing 63rd.
Day 3 saw Sky MILLER make a statement in her Division I return debut. Returning from a two-year break, Miller outfenced a deep pool of 158 qualifiers to take 27th place. In the team events, the Senior Men’s Sabre quad of Cadel HENRY, Noah HALL, Tyson DECK, and Tristan SHIM (pictured below with Coach Jeff KALLIO) held their own against the nation's best, finishing a solid 12th out of 20 teams. Noah HALL joined us as a collaborative team from Triple Treat Fencing in Charlotte, NC.
Senior Men’s Team: HENRY, HALL, KALLIO, SHIM and DECK
Our Cadet fencers also rose to the occasion. In a marathon Men’s Epee event featuring 331 competitors, Phoenix ROBERTS battled to a respectable 177th finish. Neema JOHNSON continued her busy week in Women’s Sabre, placing 75th in a field of 251 fencers.
Collaborative teams are always fun at Summer Nationals. This Senior Men’s Foil team showcased former NC fencers’ Bobby GIBBS and Vince CAMILLIO alongside coaches NICHOLSON and PASHBY pictured below.
They called themselves ‘The Bobby Gibbs Experience.”
In the Division I-A Men’s Sabre, Tyson DECK and Bennett CRAIN demonstrated incredible perseverance. Both athletes navigated a difficult field of 139 qualifiers to secure top finishes, with DECK climbing to 13th and CRAIN taking 32nd place.
By mid-week, the Forge veteran squad provided another highlight of the tournament. Carl BADGER captured a Bronze medal in Vet-70 Men’s Sabre, officially securing his spot on the Veteran World Championship Team.
Tammy JACKSON led the Vet-60 Women’s Foil team with an 8th place finish.
Carl BADGER captured a Bronze medal in Vet-70 Men’s Sabre
Coaches NICHOLSON and PASHBY with JACKSON
On the same day, in Junior Men’s Sabre, graduating senior Tristan SHIM capped his season with an 81st-place finish out of 380 fencers.
Tristan smiling with his family as he climbed the direct elimination bracket.
Youth fencing took center stage on July 2nd, as Emma MING showcased her immense potential. MING finished 56th out of 264 competitors in a highly competitive Y-14 event.
The results grew even more impressive as the divisions progressed. Bennett CRAIN followed up last year's Division III success by finishing 10th in this year’s Division II Men's Sabre out of 217 fencers.
CRAIN working his magic through the direct elimination rounds.
On the women's side, Ava ELLIS-FURLONG took 24th, while Neema JOHNSON reached the podium, earning a Bronze medal and her B26 rating after a spectacular run to the semi-finals.
Neema JOHNSON stands proudly pictured on the far right.
In the final days, Myer BRAMLETT enjoyed a career-best performance in Division III Men’s Sabre, finishing 46th with the full support of his family and teammates behind him.
Fencer BRAMLETT with coach Jeff and his parents at the end of ‘Tournament Camp’
Rising stars Joe GUO, Malcolm GOLDSTEIN, and Jacqueline HALLEY, all tasted success on the national stage, gaining invaluable experience to bring back to their training groups in North Carolina.
Coach Jen OLDHAM talking strategy with GOLDSTEIN during Y14 Men’s Sabre.
HALLEY working next to coach PASHBY in the Y12 foil.
GUO and Coach Jeff exchanging reflections on fencing.
Forge Fencing leadership extends its deepest gratitude to the families and the broader community whose support makes these achievements possible. The facility will re-open on July 13th, with the fall schedule to be announced shortly. Go Forge!