ABOUT DCFC COACHES
For more than 30 years, DCFC coaches have consistently produced national and international champions. We polish the skills of fencers who strive to compete at the highest level, and we encourage fencers of all ages and ability levels. DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National Champions. DCFC coaches encourage fencers of all levels to compete when they feel ready. Find local and National tournament information.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Are you looking to get to the next level? DCFC coaches offer one-on-one lessons to interested fencers. Private lessons provide the critical, individualized attention, instruction, and advice to help craft and refine your unique fencing game. Stop by the club, talk to our coaches about lessons, or feel free to email individual coaches below.
Janusz Smolenski, Head Coach – Janusz holds an M.S. in Sports and Physical Education from the Polish Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland, and is a certified Fencing Master with the USFCA. Before coming to US, he worked at the ASZ AWF Katowice, one of the top Olympic Sport clubs in Poland. Since his arrival in 1990, his club has grown from a small recreational club to one of the best in the nation. His DCFC students have won many medals at the National Championships, the Junior Olympics, Sectional and North American Cup competitions. Among his students, Amanda Sirico, 2018 Women’s Team Epee World Champion and Justin Haddad, 2019 USA Fencing Junior Olympic Champion, Cadet Men’s Epee. Email Janusz Smolenski, Head Coach
Byron Neslund, Coach – Byron’s coaching is based on his wide-ranging competitive career in national, international and NCAA Championship-level events. In college he fenced for New York University, where he graduated in 2011. He coaches epee, sabre and foil. His students have medaled at National Championships and North American Cups in Youth, Division 1 and Veteran’s events. Email Byron Neslund.
David Ruskin, Coach – David started fencing in the mid 1990s at his NYC high school. As a coach, his students have competed locally, nationally, and include a gold medalist at the 2023 World Veteran Championships. In addition to coaching, he can often be found refereeing or running local competitions.
Sam Cohen, Coach – Sam has been fencing at DCFC since 2008. During that time, he has competed in multiple national competitions in sabre. At the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel, Sam took gold and silver in the team and individual junior men’s fencing events representing Japan. In college, Sam was a member of the Penn State university fencing team.
Sally Gifford, Coach – Sally walked into DC Fencers Club in 2009 for a one-day introduction to fencing class and was immediately hooked. Now she gets to encourage beginner fencers and share DCFC news through a series of tubes otherwise known as the Internet. She is a U.S. Veteran bronze medal winner and a four-time national finalist.
Ryan Hrapsky, Coach – Ryan has been fencing since 2
009. He is an A-rated Epee fencer that has fenced on the national and international circuits. In college, he was a starter for NJIT’s D1 fencing team where he was also the men’s team captain. He actively competes and is the club’s resident engineer.
Eric Moret, Coach – Eric started fencing in 1998 with the Virginia Tech Fencing Club. During his collegiate career, he was epee squad captain, men’s team captain, and coached foil, epee, and sabre. He joined DCFC in 2003 where he continues to coach and fence competitively in epee. Eric has held ratings in all three weapons – both for his fencing and refereeing.