Women's Fencing

Peter Habala
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Peter  Habala
Peter Habala
Five-time Romanian national champion Peter Habala enters his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Northwestern University fencing program in 2025-26. Habala, who joined the 'Cats ahead of the 2021-22 season as a volunteer assistant coach, works primarily with the team's foilists.

During Habala's time in Evanston, a trio of Wildcat foilists have brought home All-American honors from the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA).  That group welcomed its newest member in 2024-25, as first-year Daphne Chan Nok Sze capped off an outstanding debut campaign at Northwestern by placing 10th overall at the NCAA Championships en route to bringing home Second Team All-America distinction.

Outside of Northwestern, Habala, along his wife, JG, oversees RedStar Fencing Club, a training facility which develops competitive and recreational fencers.  He also continues to compete on both the local and national levels, having been ranked the No. 1 Veteran fencer in the United States.