hEAD cOACH

Jonathan has over eighteen years of competitive experience in both epee and foil. As a cadet and junior fencer, Jonathan won two National medals, and due to his high positions on the national and international points list, Jonathan competed in multiple World Cups in France, Germany, Poland, and Hungary. By the time Jonathan was seventeen-years-old, he earned his A rating in both foil and epee, which he renewed multiple times over the years. 

Jonathan’s impressive accomplishments caught the eyes of many elite colleges, and he accepted a fencing scholarship to Sacred Heart University. His freshman and sophomore year at SHU Jonathan fenced foil, earning Second Team All League Honors in the Northeast Fencing Conference; meaning he was one of the top six fencers in the entire division. In 2012, the SHU foil squad won a bronze medal at the NCAA Squad Championships, earning Honorable Mention All-American Honors. In 2013, the foil squad won a silver medal at the NCAA Championships, earning Second Team All-American Honors.

During Jonathan’s Junior and Senior years at SHU, he fenced for the epee squad, who won the gold medal at the 2015 Squad Championships. Jonathan also won Second Team All-League Honors in Epee in 2015. 

In both 2014 and 2015, Jonathan qualified and competed in the individual NCAA Championships in epee. In 2014, Jonathan finished in 11th place in the entire country, earning Honorable Mention All-American Honors. In 2015, Jonathan finished in 7th place, earning Second Team All-American Honors. 

During all four years Jonathan attended Sacred Heart, the men’s team were Northeast Fencing Conference Champions, beating schools like Brown, Brandeis, Boston College, and Vassar. At the end of Jonathan’s senior year at Sacred Heart, he won the ECAC Medal of Merit, which is awarded to the student athlete “who has combined excellence on the fields of competition and in the classroom or outstanding service to the institution.” 

After graduating from Sacred Heart University Jonathan was a volunteer coach for the SHU fencing team as well as the Fairfield Fencing Academy

Kevin began fencing in 2006 and has been with the Blackstone Valley Fencing Academy since then. He assumed the role of coach's assistant two years into his fencing career, helping then coaches Anne and Michael Olson run classes and supervise fencers.

Kevin earned several medals during his brief competitive career, his best result being a top 8 finish at the 2012 Pomme de Terre E & Under Senior Men's Saver event. More recently, Kevin has shifted his attention from competition to honing his coaching skills.

Kevin enjoys working closely with fencers of all skill levels to help them gain deeper understanding and appreciation for the sport. 

Michael has been fencing since November 1998, and coaching since December 1999. He has  participated in a Sabre fencing clinic directed by Maestro Richards. In August of 2002 he received his Level One foil certification from the USFA. Michael is certified in CPR, Sport Safety Training, basic first aid, and has passed the ASEP Coaching Principles Course.  

Anne has been fencing since November 1998. She has been a coach since the fall of 2000 when she began coaching the Beginning Foil class for the Blackstone Valley Fencers.  Anne  received her Level One Foil certification from the USFA and is certified in CPR, Sport Safety Training, basic first aid, and has passed the ASEP Coaches Principles Course.  Anne has competed on a National level at the North American Cup.  She ranked 10th in the country for the 2008-2009 fencing season in the Veterans 40 and 15th in the overall Veterans age group in Sabre. Final standing for 2009-2010 is 15th overall in Veterans 40.