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Teaching Olympic sport fencing in Carrollton, TX
FIT Coaches are graduates of diverse universities with special training or pedagogy in fencing. FIT Instructors and Assistant Instructors have completed, at a minimum, instruction through the US Fencing Coaches Association, or equivalent instruction.
Head Coaches and Specialty Programs
USFCA Fencing Master Yury Molchan OLY
USFCA Fencing Master Yury Molchan OLY
Master Yury Molchan Olympian
Prior Experience:
- Head Coach, Sacred Heart University Division I Men’s & Women’s Fencing Team from September 2016-22.
- Assistant Men’s and Women’s Foil Team Coach, Ohio State University from 2010 to 2016. Lead the Buckeye foilists to the NCAA Championship in 2012 and finished fourth in 2013 and 2014. Yury coached two Fencing Institute of Texas Olympians, Zain Shaito, who won an individual NCAA title in 2012, and Mona Shaito who took third at the NCAA Championships twice in 2012 and 2013..
- Vice-Dean of the men’s and women’s fencing coaching department at P.F. Lesgaft National State University of Physical Training, Sports and Health in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Epee Coach Sofia Komar
USFCA Fencing Master Yury Molchan OLY
Coach Sofia Komar, Epee
- Sofia grew up in Medeo Fencing Club in New Jersey under Maestro Yakov Danilenko. She taught epee at the club for several seasons.
- Sofia was recruited by Coach Yury for his team at Sacred Heart University, but Sofia selected Princeton instead. (We think he's still a bit hurt by that.)
- Sofia graduated from Princeton University in 2024 with a Bachelor's in Political Science and Government and Slavic Languages. She also has a BA in International Relations and Affairs from Sydney University 2023.
- While at Princeton, she was a member of the Division 1 Women's Fencing Team
- 2022 & 2023 Ivy League Team Champions
- First Team All-American
- First Team All-Ivy League
- Some of her fencing achievements are
- Three-time Ivy League Champion with Princeton Fencing (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Pan-American Cadet Individual Champion (2016, Cancun) and Bronze Medalist (2017, Havana)
- Two-time Bronze Medalist at Pan-American Junior Championships (2016 & 2017)
- Gold Team Medalist – Junior Olympics and Summer Nationals (2015)
- Winner of Junior Regional Points Championships in 2018 and 2019
- October NAC 2019 – Gold; Multiple top 8 finishes in Junior NACs and National Junior events
- Top 16 finishes in Division 1 events (2018–2019)2020
- Four-time All-Academic American First Team (2016–2019)
Jonathan Carr, USFCA Prevost, Foil/Epee and Victorian Fencing
Coach Jonathan Carr
Coach Carr teaches our Adult Fitness Fencing class and our Victorian Fencing. He has a degree in Library Science and also works at the Dallas Library.
The Victorian fencers perform demonstrations throughout Texas of various rapier, dagger, and short sword techniques. The group meets Wednesdays from 8-9 PM and once a month on Sunday afternoon.
April Alford, USFCA Prevost
Coach April Alford, Prevost
Coach April teaches our beginner and intermediate fencers in our Musketeer, Bronze and Silver groups. She is the Assistant Coach for Coach Yasmany and Coach Yury in the Silver Programs.
Samantha Alkadi, USFCA Moniteur
Coach Samantha Alkadi
Coach Sam teaches our beginner and intermediate fencers in our Musketeer, Bronze and Silver groups. She is an Assistant Coach for Coach Yury in the Foil Program.
Jeff Crowe, Parafencing (Wheelchair Fencing)
Coach Jeff Crowe
Coach Jeff taught all three weapons at his own club for over 25 years. His paralympian fencer won numerous National medals in foil, epee and sabre, and competed in International competitions. He has one student currently competing on the world stage.
In Parafencing fencing, athletes who use wheelchairs are eligible to compete in Parafencing events internationally and in North American Cup events. However, there are events called "Walk and Roll" in which anyone may participate using wheelchair apparatus. At FIT, we encourage our wheelchair and ambulatory athletes to participate with each other.
About Us
IN MEMORIAM Volodymyr Yefimov
Coach Volodymyr passed away November 1st, 2022, after battling cancer. He gave so much to so many, there aren't enough words to thank him.
- Coach Volodymyr grew up in Lviv, Ukraine, and attended the Fencing Youth Sports School of Troyanda. He received a Master of Sport of the Soviet Union with Fencing emphasis in 1987. He worked for the Youth Sports School of Troyanda as a Youth Fencing Coach before coming to the US in 2000 to work at FIT. His students participated in 3 Olympic Games, 18 World Championships, and many National Championships. .;
- Those of us whose lives were touched by Coach Volodymyr will remember not only the fencing skills, but the life lessons he taught us. Honor and loyalty as well as tremendous courage were in every fiber of his being. He will be greatly missed.
Board of Directors and Additional Staff
Fencing Institute of Texas, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
The Corporation is formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and will be operated solely to (i) combat juvenile delinquency and lessen the burdens of government by educating and training youths in the sport of fencing, (ii) be a qualified amateur sports organization as defined in Section 501(j) of the Code, (iii) conduct national or international fencing competitions, (iv) develop amateur athletes for national or
international fencing competitions, (v) award educational scholarships to amateur fencing athletes; and (vi) do all things necessary for and incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes and goals of the Corporation.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors set policy and standards of operation for the Fencing Institute of Texas. FIT Coaching staff are advisors to the Board of Directors or send an email to: info@fenceintexas.org
The current Board of Directors and Officers are:
- President, Ovy Waddoups
- Vice President, Pat White
- Secretary/Treasurer, Christine Tadlock
- Elaine Studeny
- Leo Popokh
- Steve Daniell
- Oppong Heming
If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please contact one of the Board members. The Board sets policies, and provides guidance to the staff.
Other Personnel
General Manager, Brenda Waddoups
Office Managers, Sarah Calvert and Lauri Lewis
- Our office personnel often have evening commitments or are away at tournaments on weekends. If someone is not available in the office, email your question or concern to info@fenceintexas.org and one of us will respond as quickly as possible.
- Students may receive community service hours for helping in the office.
Armory Staff
- Head Armorer, Ovy Waddoups has worked numerous World Cup, PanAmerican Cup, and North American Cup tournaments.
- Armorer, Jenny Bratton has worked National and Regional tournaments
Facilities Manager, Jim Matz
To make an appointment with our Staff, email info@fenceintexas.org