Out Gay Penn State Fencer Credits ‘Heated Rivalry’ for Boosting His Confidence
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Gay Penn State senior fencer Zachary Suico says the hockey romance novel and its TV adaptation Heated Rivalry provided timely motivation during a personal and athletic slump, crediting the story’s portrayal of a gay Asian athlete for making him feel seen.
Suico, an epee fencer for the Nittany Lions and a nursing student, encountered buzz about the adaptation on social media during his junior year. Already a fan of similar queer stories like Red, White & Royal Blue, he read Rachel Reid’s book and watched the show featuring actor Hudson Williams — of Korean descent — as protagonist Shane Hollander.
“It hit very differently,” Suico said. “The main character is like a gay Asian male who is competing amongst a lot of amazing people. A lot about the show really resonated with me, and I felt very represented at that moment. Hudson Williams’ portrayal of the character made me feel very supported in my life, and more confident in myself and what I wanted to do.”
Suico’s path to fencing began unexpectedly in high school when his physical education teacher, who also coached a fencing club, introduced the sport in class. After trying it for a week, she encouraged him to join the club. He started at a small club before progressing to larger ones, competing nationally in the United States and internationally in Europe. He represented the Philippines at the Junior World Championships in 2022.
At Penn State, Suico balances a demanding schedule that includes early morning weightlifting sessions starting at 7 a.m. followed by 2.5-hour afternoon practices featuring warm-ups, footwork drills, technical lessons, and competitive bouts. He has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Beyond his personal experience, Suico highlighted fencing’s strong sense of community and encouraged others to try the sport. “It feels really weird to do at first — it’s a very unnatural sport for the body — but I just encourage people to have fun and make connections within the club that you go to,” he said. “A big part of fencing is the community.”
Suico’s story underscores the impact of visible LGBTQ representation in sports, particularly for athletes who share multiple intersecting identities.
“It hit very differently,” Suico said. “The main character is like a gay Asian male who is competing amongst a lot of amazing people. A lot about the show really resonated with me, and I felt very represented at that moment. Hudson Williams’ portrayal of the character made me feel very supported in my life, and more confident in myself and what I wanted to do.”
Suico’s path to fencing began unexpectedly in high school when his physical education teacher, who also coached a fencing club, introduced the sport in class. After trying it for a week, she encouraged him to join the club. He started at a small club before progressing to larger ones, competing nationally in the United States and internationally in Europe. He represented the Philippines at the Junior World Championships in 2022.
At Penn State, Suico balances a demanding schedule that includes early morning weightlifting sessions starting at 7 a.m. followed by 2.5-hour afternoon practices featuring warm-ups, footwork drills, technical lessons, and competitive bouts. He has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Beyond his personal experience, Suico highlighted fencing’s strong sense of community and encouraged others to try the sport. “It feels really weird to do at first — it’s a very unnatural sport for the body — but I just encourage people to have fun and make connections within the club that you go to,” he said. “A big part of fencing is the community.”
Suico’s story underscores the impact of visible LGBTQ representation in sports, particularly for athletes who share multiple intersecting identities.
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