Greg Kaidanov

Head Coach
Coach Greg Kaidanov's specialty is developing fencers to reach their highest abilities.  With over 30 years of coaching experience and over 45 years of experience in the sport of fencing, he has developed National and International competitors, including finalists in Junior Olympics, National and International tournaments.  Current club members include Junior Olympians, USA Fencing High School All-Americans, USA Fencing High School All-Academic Team, NAC medalists and USA Veteran National Team members.

Coach Greg Kaidanov worked alongside his father, Maestro Kaidanov,​ where he learned his rigorous coaching technique.  Coach Greg's coaching positions include Head Coach at other premier fencing clubs in the US prior to founding Nova Fencing Club. Coach Greg's coaching achievements include US National Champions, including the 2019 Div 2 Men's Epee National Champion, Graham Allen, and 2020 Veteran World Team Foilist Nadia Dreyer.

Coach Greg teaches all 3 weapons:  foil, saber and epee. 

Athlete

• Coached by Maestro Emik Kaidanov
• Multiple National and International tournaments
• Penn State University Varsity Fencing Team​

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Coach Emeritus​

Maestro Emmanuil Kaidanov

​Offers fencing, coaching and referee clinics at Nova Fencing Club facility.

• 0ver 60 years of coaching experience
• US Fencing Hall of Fame
• 4 times NCAA Coach of the year
• 12 NCAA Championship Titles
• NCAA all-time winningest coach
• 13 Olympians and World Champions

Coach

Gianpaolo Marini

Coach

Amy Orlando

Gianpaolo "GP" Marini is a 3-weapon Maître d'Armes. 

• Fencing Master’s Diploma from Semmelweis University in Hungary.
• Recognized as a fencing master by the FIE, EFC, and British Olympic Association.
• 15 years of coaching experience 
• Gianpaolo has trained national medalists in the UK
• Coached at Honvéd, a world- renowned fencing club in Hungary 
• Developed a training program for schools and clubs that has been used by over 1500 students.
• Passionate about developing fencers, Gianpaolo works in partnership with the athlete to set ambitious goals and achieve success.

• Amy is an A-rated Epee fencer who started fencing at age 11.
  
• Two-time Junior World Team member achieving 6th, 8th, and 10th place finishes in Junior World cups, 
  
• Member of the Senior World team, 
  
• Member of the World University team.
  
• She attended Notre Dame on a fencing scholarship and was team captain for her junior and senior years.
  
• 4-year Monogram Winner,
  
•  3-time NCAA championship participant, an integral member of the NCAA championship team, and placed second in the individual NCAA championship tournament.
  
• An experienced coach who has previously worked for clubs in Boston,Indianapolis and Loudoun County.
  
• She's coached at both the national and local levels, and her style focuses primarily on building up each fencer's strengths in order to help them improve their strategy and win bouts.

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Coach

Youth Coach

Tim Mulligan

• 6 Years Coaching at Jackson Fencing Club, Jackson MI
  
• 2 Years After School Coach, Lansing MI
  
• 2 time Captain Wayne State University
• Varsity Fencing 2007-2011
• All Conference First Team 
• Former A Foil 2006 Rating
• Competitive Epee Fencer
  
• Competitive Foil Fencer
• USA Fencing Foil and Epee Referee

Donna Cohen

Our beginners class coach and after school fencing instructor.

• ​Coaching developed by Greg Kaidanov
• Member of JMU Varsity NCAA Div I team 1987-1991
• Member of State Championship Team
• Tournament schedule coordinator
• Competitive fencer
• Treasurer of the United States Fencing Coaches Association

Archery Coach

Paul Dainauskas

A dual weapon coach - Paul is our Archery Coach and Program Coordinator as well as a youth fencing coach.

• USA Archery Coach - Level 2
• Youth Fencing Coach
• 40+ years archery experience
• 30+ Years Competitive Fencer​

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Puppy In Training

Cam

Nova Fencing Club is proud to be a part of Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy-in-training Cam's socialization and learning.  Cam joins the Nova staff for early afternoon work.  When Cam is between 16 and 18 months she will head back to NY to the Canine Development Center where she will be evaluated and (hopefully) finish her training as a guide dog. 

General Manager

Donna Felsenheld

• General Manager of Nova Fencing Club
• Camp Director
• Licensed Educator with 8 years teaching experience in APS
• USA Fencing Epee Referee
• USA Archery Director
• Puppy Trainer
• Keeps things running
• Competitive Epee Fencer