Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
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 OLYMPIAN
Master Yury Molchan Olympian
Yury fenced for SKA St. Petersburg, a program known for classical Russian foil fundamentals—typically emphasizing clean technical execution, structured distance control, and strong parry–riposte discipline.
Yury Molchan is best remembered for his 2004 Olympic bronze medal in team foil and his long-standing contributions to fencing at both the national and collegiate levels. His career spans elite competition, national team service, and high-level coaching, making him a notable figure in modern fencing history.
Olympic and Career Achievements
- 2008 World Cup (Copenhagen, Denmark) — Gold medal
- 2004 Athens Summer Olympics — Bronze medal in Men’s Team Foil with the Russian Federation
- 2004 Athens Olympics — 25th place in Men’s Individual Foil
- 2003 World Junior Championships (Trapani, Italy) — 3rd place
- Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix podiums, including 2nd place at the 2005 Grand Prix A Coruña and 2005 World Cup Vancouver
- 2004 European Fencing Championships — Gold medal
- He also won three bronze medals at the 2003 Daegu and 2005 İzmir Summer Universiade in foil team and individual events
Coaching Career
After retiring from competition, Molchan transitioned into coaching. Prior to coming to FIT, Yury was:
- Head Men’s and Women’s Fencing Coach at Sacred Heart University
- Assistant Coach at Ohio State University (2010–2014), helping the Buckeyes win the 2012 NCAA Championship and where he coached Olympian brother and sister, Zain and Mona Shaito
- Vice-Dean of men’s and women’s fencing at P.F. Lesgaft National State University in St. Petersburg
Coach Yury, a personal friend of FIT’s Coach of 20+ years, Volodymyr Yefimov, decided to move to Texas after Coach Volodymyr’s death and continue to build the strong fencing program FIT is known for. 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.
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.
Cameron James Foil/Epee and Victorian Fencing
Cameron James Foil/Epee and Victorian Fencing
Coach Cameron James
Coach Cameron teaches our Beginner Programs (Musketeer and Bronze with Coach Samantha, and the Adult Fitness), as well as our Victorian Program.
Epee Coach Paul Lewis, Prevost
Cameron James Foil/Epee and Victorian Fencing
April Alford, USFCA Prevost
Coach April Alford, Prevost
Coach April teaches our beginner and intermediate fencers in our Musketeer, Bronze. She is a Nationally rated Referee (N1 Epee and R1 Foil) and provides guidance to our up-and-coming club referees.
Jeff Crowe and Carolyn Hoyle 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.
- Coach Carolyn taught fencing in Rockwall school system for many years. She serves on the USA Fencing Adaptive Sport task force for blind and wheelchair fencers
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.
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
- Board Advisor, Pat White
- Secretary/Treasurer, Christine Tadlock
- Allison Ro
- Ray Kong
- Leo Popokh
- Steve Daniell
- Oppong Heming
- Nicole Lee
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 (Volunteer)
Office Manager, Sarah Calvert
- Office hours are 5:30-8:30pm Monday-Friday and 10-2:30pm Saturday.
- 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.
Volunteer Armory Staff
- Head Armorer, Ovy Waddoups has worked numerous World Cup, PanAmerican Cup, and North American Cup tournaments.
- Students may receive community service hours for helping in the Armory
Volunteer Facilities Manager (vacant)