Congratulations to the 2025 Coaches Award Recipients
Maitre Gil Pezza
Gil has over 45 years of coaching experience. He was head coach at Wayne State University where his teams won several team and individual national championships. He served as National Coach for Women’s Epee. Gil has made immense contributions to the USFCA as past president, past chair of the CAB and current chair of the bylaws committee.
Syd Fadner
Syd is currently the owner and coach of the Worcester Fencing Club. She was the Head Coach at Boston College for 20 years. Syd was also both coach and manager at the Boston Fencing Club where she was instrumental in developing a number of national medal winners.
Gary Murray Sr.
Gary started the Round Rock Fencing Club in 1986. More recently he was instrumental in establishing the Blind Fencers task force for the USFCA, including creating an online course for educating coaches on how to teach blind and visually impaired fencers.
(1) Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in the Coaching & Teaching of Fencing
The recipient’s students have achieved notable competitive successes over the years, or the coach has performed some service that has been of especial value to the USFCA. In any case, the coach should demonstrate the personal character and the kind of professional demeanor and deportment that can serve as a positive example to coaches and that casts a favorable light on our profession to fencers and/or parents.
(2) Award of Merit for Career Contributions in the Coaching & Teaching of Fencing
The recipient has coached and taught successfully over many years. While this coach’s fencers may not have earned outstanding competitive successes, they are always well-trained and represent our sport in a favorable light. The coach has contributed significantly to the over-all level of fencing in his or her community, is generally well thought-of in it, and through personal character and positive deportment has cast a favorable light on our profession.
(3)Â Coach of the YearÂ
In one competitive season the recipient’s students have achieved particularly noteworthy success, taking into account the training conditions (either favorable or unfavorable) under which the coach worked. The successful students must be primarily, if not entirely, developed by the awardee, and their achievements determine the coach’s eligibility for the award.
