OUR STAFF
Looking for experienced fencing coaches in Fairfax? Fencing Sports Academy brings together foil, épée, and sabre coaches with national-team, international competition, and Olympic-level coaching and officiating experience. Our team supports beginners through competitive athletes with instruction shaped by decades in the sport and a program whose fencers have earned more than 482 national-level medals.
Connie Schreiber
Executive Director
Connie is excited to share her vast experience of 15+ years at the national and international level in the world of fencing with FSA students and parents. Her unique insights as a fencing parent, fencer, and manager enable her to maintain a professional, family-friendly environment where Épée, Foil, and Sabre fencers at any level can bond and grow together, unfolding the world of fencing through personalized training.
She was fundamentally involved in attracting a team of high caliber coaches at Fencing Sports Academy and supporting their efforts to develop the successful program that has enabled the Academy to become named among the top level fencing centers in the United States.
Fun Facts
Working in the garden during spring, summer, and fall keeps her balanced. Watching the daffodils peek out with their friendly, yellow bells brings her joy. During the colder seasons, she prefers preparing her favorite comfort foods, keeping them simmering in a crock pot. And of course: COOKIES. Specifically baking secret family recipes and seeing everyone eagerly waiting to get their share. And above all else, stabbing a target certainly takes the edge off.
Alexis Machado Cordoves
Fencing Program Manager Foil
Machado has extensive experience in the
management of fencing programs on a national
level. His ability to develop a cohesive program
enables him to create and individualize programs
keyed into each fencer’s talent and needs, enabling
the fencer to achieve their full potential.
Machado coached 25 fencers to individual National
Champions and 15 Team National Championships
in Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela. In the U.S he has
coached 8 SYC Champions, Top 8 Summer
Nationals fencers naming just a few of his
successes. Machado earned a master’s degree in
the science of fencing at the Higher Institute of
Physical Culture. He studied to coach all three
weapons and prefers to coach foil.
Fun Facts
In Machado’s free time, he likes to watch movies, explore new places, and read, keeping himself well-read personally and professionally. He also enjoys spending time with family, going out to eat, and sightseeing hotspots like museums, aquariums, parks, and the beach.
Meet Our Coaches
FSA is a 3 weapon club with coaches teaching Epee, Foil and Saber
Domingo Gomez
Fencing Head Coach Epée
Domingo is an experienced fencing coach and athlete
with multiple studies in sports and exercise science.
- This includes a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science
(UANL). As an athlete he made his way up to the
Junior and Senior Mexican National Epee Team while
fencing in various individual and team events. His vast
experience as an athlete and coach is reflected in the
success of his students, who have participated in FIE
events such as Junior Pan American and World
Championships, Junior and Senior World Cups,
NACs, and USAF Regional Events. Domingo is well
known for his ethical, technical, and strategical
thinking which transcends into fencing drills and
tactics, making athletes achieve their potential at the
highest fencing levels.
Fun Facts
My favorite sports besides fencing are baseball and soccer. My favorite soccer team is the Rayados de Monterrey. I consider world history to be very interesting. I like to learn, read and watch documentaries related to museums, buildings, artefacts etc. I enjoy barbecues and spending time with family and friends. I am passionate about watching fencing tournaments and keeping up with the statistics, results and videos of national and international tournaments.
Russ Wilson
Foil & Sabre Coach
Coach Russ Wilson has produced many local,
regional, and national champions during his forty
years involvement in American Fencing. He has
coached both foil and Sabre fencers to Division 1
top eight and helped many fencers secure berths on
both USA and British national teams. He has
produced All-Americans and All-lvy League fencers.
He has also coached fencers to the World
Maccabiah championships. This event takes place
once every four years and is the third largest
sporting event in the world.
Russ has helped his students get recruited to such
schools as Stanford, University of Pennsylvania,
and Johns Hopkins.
He coaches foil and Sabre students at all levels. He
has an AB from Columbia, a MA from Georgetown,
and a JD from the Washington College of Law.
Fun Facts
When Russ worked for the government, he met with Fidel Castro, Kim Il Sung and most world leaders. He loves opera and art and taught Law school for nine years.
Alex Wood
Foil Coach
Coach Wood has been involved in the sport of fencing
for over nearly 30 years, including as a competitor,
coach, and leader within the United States Fencing
Association. Coach Wood has been a fencing coach
in Northern Virginia area for the past 12 years,
providing group instruction, private foil lessons, and
strip coaching students at national and international
tournaments. His students have gone on to attend
and compete at NCAA schools, including Stanford,
John’s Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, and Penn
State. He was an athlete representative on the US
Fencing Board of Directors, Chair of the Athlete
Council, Chair of the National Team Oversight
Committee, Chair of the Membership Growth Task
Force, and participated in many other US Fencing
committees. Member of Veteran 40 National Team.
Fun Facts
While not coaching, he spends his time either at his full-time job as a privacy attorney with the U.S. Federal Government, or chasing after his three boys shuttling them from activity to activity. He also enjoys traveling, reading, and playing soccer, including rooting for his favorite team, Liverpool. Go Reds!
Moataz Abdelkarem
Épée Coach
Moataz is a remarkable left-handed fencer and
has been fencing since he was 7 years old. As a
for 10 years, he participated in multiple
international competitions and was the Arabian
Champion two years in a row. He has been
coaching the sport for over 10 years, both
nationally and internationally, and has trained
Olympic fencers and World Cup Champions.
Moataz recently moved to Virginia to join FSA after
his consistent success as a coach in New Jersey
for more than 4 years. His love for Epee clearly
comes through in his classes. His experience and
enthusiasm enliven the classes and private
lessons. Coach Moataz’s fencing style focuses on
speed, tactics, agility and discipline.
Fun Facts
Moataz is a huge soccer fan. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, grilling, watching sports and reading sports news and articles. He also enjoys traveling.
Jean Carlos DeLa Cruz
Épée Coach
He started fencing when he was 11 years old and
since that day he has fallen in love with the sport. In
his 15 years of fencing, he made the Puerto Rican
National Epee Team in Cadet, Junior and Senior
levels. As a coach he has helped many athletes
improve in their fencing at the National and
International level. He loves working with younger
fencers, helping them to be the best they can be and
falling in love with the sport of fencing. He still
competes on the National Circuits.
- Member of the Egyptian National Fencing Team
Fun Facts
In my free time I enjoy gaming with my friends. Also like listening to music from Bad Bunny. Other than fencing I love baseball, boxing and pool. I like to watch fencing videos to learn from other fencers and coaches. I love spending time with my family and going to the beach.
Annis Hechavarria
Coach
Coach Annis Hechavarria is a remarkable foil fencer with uncountable fencing accolades. For example, she was a member of Cuba’s national fencing team for 11 years. While on the team, she and her team won the Central America Silver Medal in Bogota, the Bronze Medal in the Pan American Games, placed in the top 20 in the Grand Prix, and frequently participated in the Villa de la Habana World Cup, to name a few. Presently, Coach Annis continues to be active in the fencing tournament scenes here in the United States. Ever since she picked up her foil weapon when she was 9, she has never looked back.
Fun Facts
Coach Annis is happy to be at FSA and share her passion and knowledge of fencing with her students.
Javier Tucker Alfonso
Coach
Coach Javier Tucker Alfonso has been passionate about fencing since young. Ever since he started his fencing lessons at 10 years old, he worked hard and became very competitive in the sport during the following 8 years. One of Coach Javier’s most remarkable achievements includes being ranked as one of the Top 8 fencers nationally in Cuba when he was 14th years old.
Coach Javier graduated from the University of Matanzas Camilo Cienfuegos with an undergraduate degree in Business. After he finished college, he decided to continue his passion for fencing by working as an assistant coach with the team of Matanzas City. Under Coach Javier’s coaching and guidance, the team won gold and bronze medals in the Cuban National Games in 2022, earning the first-place overall honor. We do not doubt Coach Javier’s ability to bring a similar success here at FSA.
Fun Facts
Coach Javier has a Husky dog named Max, who he loves and misses dearly. Max now lives with Coach Javier’s mom in Matanzas City, Cuba, where Coach Javier was born and raised.
Join Our Team!
Fencing Sports Academy is always looking for Épée, Foil, and Sabre fencing coaches and fitness and administrative staff who are compassionate, professional, and talented. From recreational to competitive fencing, FSA seeks individuals that can contribute to the continued creation of effective training programs, developing fencers of all skill levels into national and international champions.
Fencing Sports Academy, Northern Virginia’s premier fencing club, is seeking accomplished fencing coaches to instruct individual or group classes from fundamental to advanced levels. Based out of our Fairfax, VA, club, the incumbent will train athletes for U.S.-based and international fencing competitions sanctioned by USA Fencing, Regional Zonal Fencing Bosies, and the FIE.
Requires 24 months experience as a fencing coach at the club, NCAA, or national team level, and a bachelor’s or associate degree or equivalent in sports management, kinesiology, or any field related to health or athletic competition. Base salary of $70k plus benefits.
To apply, send C.V. and cover letter to Fencing Sports Academy c/o Executive Director: 10164 Marshall Pond Rd., Burke, VA, 22015.