Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance to Host Major Fencing Event

The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance will host the 2025 United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs National Championships at the Nittany Valley Sports Centre in State College, Pennsylvania.

The event is scheduled to take place on April 5–6, 2025. More than 45 collegiate club fencing teams will participate in the two-day tournament. This will be the first year that the event will be sanctioned by USA Fencing, as USACFC joins the organization as an autonomous subdivision starting with the 2024–2025 season.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2025 USACFC National Championships to Happy Valley,” said Eric Engelbarts, executive director at the Happey Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance. “As a hub for collegiate sports and athletics, our community is eager to host this notable event, highlighting the talent and dedication of collegiate fencers from across the country.”

The 2025 USACFC National Championships will have team and individual events across all three fencing weapons: foil, epee and sabre, with both men’s and women’s teams competing. The event hosts more than 800 collegiate athletes and an additional 200 coaches.

USACFC is dedicated to promoting and advancing collegiate fencing throughout the United States. The organization was established in 2003 with 13 teams and has grown to include more than 45 teams.

“Hosting the championship in Happy Valley, where fencing has such a strong tradition, is extremely exciting,” said Jo Klatzman Higgison, president of USACFC. “It’s amazing to see how deeply this community values the sport. I’m looking forward to witnessing our collegiate athletes continue to honor the tradition and comradery of fencing in this special place.”