ISLAND FENCING ACADEMY COACHES

SABRE

BORIS KHURGIN has produced many national champions and coaches fencers at the international level. He also coaches at the Manhattan fencing academy . He has over 20 years experience as a fencing coach and has a Masters degree from the Minsk University of Physical Education. Two of his most recent and notable students are 2005 U.S. National Team members Dagmara Wozniak and Aleksander Ochocki. Boris teaches the competitive sabre classes.

MIKHAIL SHIMSHOVICH (Misha) is an advanced level sabre coach and an internationally recognized sabre referee. He also coaches at Manhattan fencing Academy, and is the assistant coach at St. Johns University. Misha graduated with a Masters degree from the Kiev Institute of Physical Education. He has trained many top national fencers including Adam Fields (3rd Place Div II Summer Nationals 2008) and Sam Austin 3rd Y-14 Summer Nationals 2008, Judy Cummings (5th place Veteran World Championships 2006, Jennine Bender (5th place Veteran World Championships 2007.

MIHAIL ETROPOLSKI (Mike) is dedicated to developing the sabre program at IFA and promoting the sport of fencing on Long Island. He has 8 years of national and international competition experience and is currently on the national point standings. His role as an instructor to the beginner students and mentor for the advanced students has helped strengthen the sabre program this past season.

FOIL

NATALIE GAREEVA has come to IFA to build the youth foil program back into shape. She is a professional fencer with 15 years of international experience, was on the Kazakhstan national team for 10 years, participated in world cups, world championships, asian games, and nationals for many years. She has been working under Buckie Leach to develop her skills as a fencing coach and has coached youth fencers at training programs in Russia. She has developed a good rapport with the kids and looks forward to strengthening the foil program.

EPEE

RUBEN GRIGORIAN
Ruben is an eminent coach of the Republic of Armenia. He holds a Master of Sports in both fencing and the pentathalon. Ruben was the silver and bronze medalist of the USSR National Championship. He also won a number of Armenian championships. He was the first coach of four-time world champion, world-cup winner, and Olympic medalist Ashot Karagian. Ruben was also the Armenian National Coach. We are honored to have him working at our academy.

DENNIS DALY is an experienced high school fencing coach. He led the Garden City High School Fencing Team to many Sectional Titles. Dennis was the progressive leader in Nassau County Fencing by adding a separate girls team to the league and including additional weapons to the meet format. He is a successful epee coach with fencers on the national point standings.