USA Fencing

James Carpenter's illustrious fencing career includes competing as an Olympian in the 1996 Atlanta Games, where he narrowly missed an Olympic medal in a sudden death overtime loss in the team epee event. He also captured a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and a bronze in 1991. A consistent top 10 fencer in the U.S. for over a decade, Carpenter has claimed five Team National Championships and two Individual National Silver Medals. His leadership extended off the piste as well, serving as Chairman of the New York Athletic Club's fencing program from 1990 to 1996 and as Director of High Performance for the U.S. Fencing Association. Since 2012, he has been the head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Jane Hall Carter, an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, has excelled in foil fencing for over 43 years. A three-time NCAA All-American and member of the 1986 NCAA Championship team, she has a storied international career with multiple appearances on Junior, Senior, and Veteran World Championship teams, as well as World University Games and Pan Am Games teams. Notably, she was part of the gold-winning U.S. team at the 1991 Pan American Games and took fifth place at the 1992 Buenos Aires World Cup. Jane was inducted into the PENN Fencing Hall of Fame in 2002, into the PENN Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and into the Peabody High School Hall of Fame (for discus!) in 2008.   Jane is a three-time Vet 50 WF National Champion and has qualified for every Veterans World Fencing Championships since 2017, earning Silver Medals twice in the Vet50 WF Individuals, and anchoring the Gold Medal WF Team in 2017.  In that event, Jane scored 23 of the 30 touches for a come from behind, 30-29 win in the semi-finals against Italy. Jane is also a Director of Data Management/Process Lead at IQVIA and is currently pursuing her MBA. Currently serving as NEUSFA Chair, Jane has served non-stop for 28 years as a volunteer for USA Fencing either at the national or local level.  She continues to coach at The Dana Hall School and Tanner City Fencers Club and enjoys family activities with her husband Jim and her children, Liz and Joe.

Steve Kaplan has had a distinguished career both as a fencer and coach. In 1971 at NYU he was a silver medalist in the NCAA individual championships. In 1975 he won a silver medal in the Pan Am Games in the sabre team event. Steve was a finalist in the U.S. national championships four times and with HOF fencers Peter Westbrook and Paul Apostol won five consecutive national sabre team championships representing the Fencers Club. He competed for the U.S. in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.  Steve founded the Cobra Fencing Club in Jersey City, NJ in 2003 and as a USFCA Fencing Master has produced many outstanding sabreurs. Cobra hosts one of the largest and most popular Super Youth Circuit events, the Cobra Challenge, each year in New Jersey.

Tom Losonczy boasts a significant record as a two-time Olympian. He competed in the team saber event at the 1976 Summer Olympics and was selected for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, though he did not compete due to the boycott of the Moscow Olympics. A two-time, back-to-back, national champion (1976/77 and two additional top 3 finishes), Losonczy notably overcame Peter Westbrook in both victories. He also participated in the 1975 Pan American Games and contributed to five national team championships. As the first Junior World finalist back in 1973 in Buenos Aires, his pioneering spirit in fencing is evident. Losonczy's career was further honored when he received a Congressional Gold Medal as part of the recognition for the athletes affected by the 1980 boycott.

Phil Reilly's fencing career includes being a member of Olympic teams:1972 alt.,1980 and 1984  where he was the team captain. A 12-time U.S. National Championship finalist and five-time US National Saber Team Champion for the NYAC. Reilly also achieved multiple New Jersey and North Atlantic/Mid Atlantic Saber Championships. His global presence was felt competing on 6 World Championships and 2 Pan American teams, winning two silver medals in the Pan Am team competition. In 1979 placed second in the NY Martini & Rossi World Cup. Reilly competed in veteran competitions, winning two National Saber Vet 50 championships and a silver at the 2004 Vet World Championship. His contributions to fencing extend beyond competition, currently he is President of the Oregon Fencing Alliance one of the premier sabre clubs, home of many Olympic and world champions.

Dan Magay, an Olympic gold medalist, began his illustrious fencing career in Hungary, winning team saber gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and reaching the finals at the 1954 World Championships. Post-Olympics, Magay emigrated to the USA amidst political turmoil in Hungary, furthering his education and fencing career at UC Berkeley. In the U.S., he won three National Individual Saber titles and two team championships with the Pannonia Athletic Club, also representing the U.S. at the 1963 World Championships. 

Dick Pew's fencing career is highlighted by a historic performance at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he placed fourth in epee, marking the best Olympic result by an American in the event. A student of Coach Georges Cointe at Cornell, Pew had no prior fencing experience before college but quickly excelled, making the Olympic team within years. He won the Eastern Intercollegiate epee title consecutively in 1954 and 1955, leading Cornell to its first-ever three-weapon championship and serving as co-captain. Pew also secured the epee runner-up position at the 1955 NCAA Championship.

Patricia Bedrosian, a devoted fencer for more than 65 years, has showcased her prowess in both epee and foil, currently holding the top ranking in Vet 80 Epee and second in Vet 80 Foil in the U.S. A frequent medalist at the Veteran World Championships, her accolades include bronze medals in foil (2005, 2013, 2014) and epee (2012), a silver in individual epee (2015), and a team foil gold (2017). Born in Leamington Spa, England, and educated at Pepperdine University, Bedrosian has enriched her life with pursuits like gardening and family history research, sharing her passion and kindness with the fencing community and her family.

Julie Seal's illustrious fencing career spans over 30 years, marked by excellence both as a competitor and coach. A Fencing Master of Arms skilled in foil, saber, and epee, Seal has achieved remarkable success: 26 National Gold Medals, 22 Silver, 43 Bronze, and several international medals, including Vet World Champion titles in Women's Foil and Saber in 2023. Her coaching prowess is evidenced by numerous national medals won by her students. Seal is a member of the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and Academie d'Armes Internationale. Beyond her fencing accolades, she is a devoted mother of five, valuing her family as her greatest accomplishment.

Amgad Khazbak has distinguished himself as a preeminent figure in fencing, both on the international stage and within the U.S. Beginning his career in Egypt as a national team fencer and coach, Khazbak transitioned to the United States, where he has since nurtured some of the country's finest fencers. His students' remarkable achievements include over 100 medals in Olympic Games, World Cups, and World Championships. Notably, he led the U.S. Women’s Foil team to significant success and coached at three Olympic Games, culminating in a gold medal for his athlete Lee Kiefer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Named USA Fencing’s Coach of the Year in 2012, Khazbak continues to inspire excellence at Bluegrass Fencers Club.

Maestro Gil Pezza’s illustrious fencing career spans both competitive success and influential coaching. As the head coach at Wayne State University, he led his teams to numerous national championships in the 1980s, notably pioneering women's epee fencing in the U.S. He made a significant impact as the first U.S. national coach for Women's Epee, guiding the team to a commendable fourth place at the 1987 World Championships in France. Starting his fencing journey in Milan, Pezza was a member of the Italian National Epee Team before moving to the U.S., where he became an NCAA champion. His extensive contributions include several published works on fencing, enhancing both the practical and academic aspects of the sport. His leadership roles in the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation further illustrate his dedication to advancing fencing on multiple fronts.

Semyon Pinkhasov, a master of fencing coaching, has shaped champions and contributed significantly to the sport since immigrating to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1977. A graduate of the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, Pinkhasov led the New York Fencers’ Club Men’s Foil Team to 10 National Championships and the Women’s Foil Team to six. He coached at the 1984 Olympic Games and multiple Pan American and Maccabiah Games, guiding fencers like Michael McCahey, Sharon Monplaisir, and Jeff Bukantz to national and international success. Beyond the piste, Pinkhasov has engaged in advocacy, notably aiding in his cousin’s emigration from the Soviet Union.

Kornel Udvarhelyi is a celebrated epee coach with a longstanding tenure at New York University, where under his guidance, the fencing teams have consistently achieved top-25 national finishes each year. Starting his U.S. coaching career in 2001, Udvarhelyi has led both men’s and women’s teams to notable successes, including a record number of victories and top finishes at the NCAA Championships. His expertise was recognized early in his U.S. career when he was appointed U.S. National Epee Coach in 2003. Before his time in the U.S., he significantly contributed to fencing in Hungary, developing programs and coaching the Hungarian Junior National Men's Epee team. 

Gerrie Baumgart was a trailblazer in the world of fencing officiating, achieving several historic firsts that paved the way for women in the sport. Born in Chicago in 1940 and later a long-time resident of Denver, Baumgart discovered fencing in 1966 and quickly became a vital member of the community. She was the first U.S. woman to receive an International A rating from the FIE and the first American woman to officiate fencing at both the Olympic Games and Olympic finals. Her pioneering efforts were recognized in 2014 with the Fencing Officials Commission Distinguished Service Award. Baumgart's legacy as a mentor and leader in fencing officiating remains influential, underscoring her dedication and impact on the sport.

Jeff Bukantz has refereed or served as USA Team Captain at four Olympic Games and 15 World Championships. A formidable competitor, Bukantz represented the United States at World Championships, Pan American Games, World University Games, and World Maccabiah Games. He served as Olympic team captain in 2004 and 2008 and as an Olympic referee in 1984 and 1996, where he officiated the men’s foil finals. His media presence includes roles as an NBC Olympic analyst and FIE commentator. Bukantz also contributed significantly off the piste as a member of the FIE Rules Commission and USA Fencing High Performance Committee. The son of legendary fencer Danny Bukantz, Jeff has continued his family’s fencing legacy, documented in his book, "Closing the Distance."

Peter Harmer's commitment to the health and safety of fencers led him to establish the sports medicine program for US Fencing. Beginning in 1989, he provided care to the national team at 18 World Championships and in 2000 created, directed and staffed the sports medicine program for all US Fencing national events that continues today. He was the Chief Medical Officer until 2013. He was elected to the FIE Medical Commission in 2000 and served for 16 years, during which time he was appointed medical supervisor for 13 World Championships as well as the 2006 Asian Games and the 2015 Pan-American Games. His research on fencing injury risk resulted in several rule changes to increase fencer safety and helped numerous fencing programs become established by providing compelling scientific evidence to counter opposition from administrators and insurers convinced of the myth that fencing was too dangerous to support.

Jon Moss is a distinguished figure in the fencing community, renowned for his extensive experience as a referee at both national and international levels. He began his refereeing career in 1979 and has been a presence at World Cup events since 1996. Moss has notably officiated at five Paralympic Games, demonstrating his expertise across all three fencing weapons, for which he holds an IWAS A rating. His leadership skills were recognized with his election as chair of the Referees’ Commission, where he was responsible for the training and development of international referees. In addition to his refereeing duties, Moss contributes to the sport by coaching at the University of New Hampshire and Tanner City Fencing Club. 

Andy Shaw, USA Fencing’s Official Historian, has significantly shaped the preservation of American fencing history. Owner of the Museum of American Fencing, Shaw curates the largest private collection of fencing memorabilia in the country. His fencing career, influenced by mentors like Csaba Elthes and Giorgio Santelli, includes competitive highlights such as participating in the U.S. Men’s Foil Olympic Trials. Beyond competition, Shaw has contributed extensively as a coach, official, and media consultant, enhancing public and cultural appreciation of fencing. His efforts have established him as a pivotal figure in promoting and preserving the heritage of fencing in the United States.

Ruby Watson was a seminal figure in American fencing, advocating tirelessly for the inclusion of women's saber and epee in competitive fencing. Living in Brooklyn, Watson participated in every epee and later saber competition available to her and was a formidable voice for the rights of women, especially women of color, in the sport. Her efforts culminated in the acceptance of women's saber at national championships, transforming the landscape of the sport. Watson's advocacy faced bureaucratic resistance, but she never wavered in her commitment to equality in fencing. Her legacy is honored as a crucial part of the history that led to broader acceptance and celebration of women fencers in all weapons.