A Salute to Coach Ilya
The DC Fencers Club community wishes the very best to Coach Ilya V. Lobanenkov, as he takes on the full-time position of head coach at Loudoun International Fencing Club (LIFC) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the 2017-18 season.
Ilya has served as a DCFC coach for 10 years. He started as a part-time coach in 2007 and made the leap to full-time coaching in 2010. Coach Ilya has introduced hundreds of students to the sport, and a number of his students have achieved top eight spots at national competitions.
An entrepreneur as well as an educator, Ilya brought his programming and web design skills to revamp the DCFC website and introduce an online payment system.
His multifaceted approach to teaching fencing is combined with his singular passion for the sport and for his students. For every time Ilya told his students to “move the picnic” and fence, he also took the time to develop individually tailored games for each student.
While we are sad to see a beloved coach leave, we are truly happy for his new opportunity. The DCFC community looks forward to a continued relationship with Coach Ilya and LIFC, and we welcome cross-club practices to develop our students.
Coach Ilya, we salute your dedication, your humor, and your efforts to bring out the best in your students. As you embark on the next phase of your career, know that you are always welcome at DCFC.
Salute,
Janusz Smolenski
Head Coach, DC Fencers Club