The 2025 Veteran World Fencing Championship was hosted in Manama, Bahrain, from Nov. 12 to 20. Among the 911 fencing representatives from 64 countries was one of Seton Hall’s own: Kate Sierra, a Senior Instructional Designer and current Ph.D. student.
Sierra first discovered fencing while studying at the University of Northern Iowa to fulfill a physical education credit, but due to a lack of resources at the time, she had to discontinue. She searched through course catalogues and experimented with Jazzercise, Zumba, and eventually found fencing classes, and continued ever since.
Sierra, who discovered the sport as an adult, says that it has enabled her to “meet...a wide variety
of people with different backgrounds, professions [that pursue fencing] because we love it.”
She explained that “veteran, in this case, doesn't mean military service and fencing; it's the equivalent of the master's level in other countries—anyone who's age 39 and older.”
Serving on that committee gives her a direct line back to serving her community.
“It’s great to have that bond with adults that I wouldn’t have normally gotten to meet otherwise,” Sierra said.
Being an adult athlete was beyond Sierra’s wildest dreams. Qualifying to be a part of Team USA in the 2025 Veterans Championship? She would have told you that you were crazy.
To compete and represent Team USA, Sierra was tasked with making the top four in the national
points list. After coming in fifth last year, she was motivated this year to secure her spot on the team.
In preparation for the match, Sierra said that she “fenced as much as [she] could while also
balancing adult life and owning a fencing club and having a full-time job.”
She recognized her husband, who traveled with her to Bahrain—-also her coach and co-owner of the new Richmond County Fencing Center on Staten Island.
During her practices, she wore all her gear, getting accustomed to the “USA” print all over, beginning to realize how important it was to represent her country well.
Kate Sierra at the 2025 Veteran World Fencing Championship | Photo via Kate Sierra
While in Bahrain, Sierra felt honored to be a part of a community that supported her physically
and mentally in her first international competition. She credited her hardworking team and liaison, Kaitlyn Litton.
Everything became real for Sierra when there were spectators watching from a distance and the International Fencing Federation (FIE) livestreamed for people all over the world.
“With that kind of pressure always in the back of my mind, I genuinely feel like I fenced as best as I could,” Sierra said.
“There was one pool about where I feel like I could have done better, but overall, I genuinely feel that I gave it my all and did my best like any sport experience,” Sierra said. “When you lose,
you learn. And so now I know the things that I need to improve and work on in order to be able
to do even better, hopefully next time.”
Even though Sierra did not win gold, she won the hearts of her pirates at the Hall.
Blessy Phillip, a junior health sciences major, is proud to say that after being at SHU for three years now, her veins do run blue. It’s no surprise then that she is extremely proud of Sierra and her hard work she put in to get to the national stage.
“It is so inspiring to see what great minds can do,” she said. “Learning more about her
journey, I am inspired and encouraged to continue to pursue my passions and hobbies alongside
my major. As a STEM major, I tend to push off my creative hobbies, but hearing about Kate is a
reminder that you can do both.”
Claire Bent, a freshman secondary education major, said that it surprised her “that a Seton Hall employee [is] also a world-level athlete.”
“I was under the impression that you could only do one profession at a time,” Bent added.
Jasai Howard Wright, a freshman political science major, said, “It’s amazing that someone enjoys doing something of their own interest, besides sticking to a 9-5 job.”
Sierra serves as an inspiration for those who have a dream.
Wright added that Sierra also encouraged her to explore her passions outside her major.
“Personally, it makes me more persuaded to advocate for human rights, even outside of my major, knowing that if she can do it, anyone can,” Wright said.
Whether at home or abroad, Sierra encourages students and staff to “pursue excellence in
Kate Sierra at the 2025 Veteran World Fencing Championship | Photo via Kate Sierra
whatever it is that you want to do.
“Make sure that you tap into the community because there are going to be times where you doubt yourself and your passion...but your community will keep you moving toward the goals that you've set,” Sierra said.
Kassandrah Blake is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at kassandrah.blake@student.shu.edu.
