Esperanza Barrera, of San Marcos, Texas, won the Division IA Women's Epee event at the United States Fencing Association's National Championships (USFA) that were held at the Gaylord Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas on July 1-12, 2009.

On July 8th, Mrs. Barrera took first place out of a field of 69 competitors from all over the United States. At 46 years of age, she was the most mature winner in this women's epee event, according to USFA records. She represented the All Texas Athletic Club (ATAC) of San Marcos, Texas.

Esperanza has also been national champion three times in women's epee in Mexico, her home country. She has been fencing for 25 years and has represented Mexico in numerous World Cup fencing events in Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America. She became a U.S. citizen a few years ago.

Esperanza is married to her coach, Oscar Barrera, a 1970 graduate of San Saba High School and a 1974 graduate of Texas State University at San Marcos. He is the son of the late Manuel and Camila Barrera of San Saba, Texas.