Welcome Olympian and Olympic Coach Akhi Spencer-El to Tim Morehouse Fencing Club!

We are thrilled to announce that Olympian and Olympic Team Saber Coach Akhi Spencer-El is officially joining the coaching staff at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, starting Monday, February 3!

This is far more than just a professional addition to our team—it’s a truly meaningful full-circle moment. Akhi and I share a special history that dates back to our elementary school days at Central Park East in East Harlem. From being schoomates to becoming Olympic fencers, our journeys have intertwined in incredible ways over the past 40 years!

Akhi is widely regarded for his exceptional coaching expertise and just as importantly, he is also deeply respected for his integrity, kindness, and dedication to his students. As Akhi joins us as a coach, I am very grateful that I will be able to work with him to inspire and develop the next generation of champions at our newest facility, TMFC’s East Side location, where he will play a key role in leading the growth of the club.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Akhi to the TMFC family!

A Legacy of Excellence in Fencing

Akhi Spencer-El brings an extraordinary wealth of experience and accomplishments to TMFC. A seasoned coach at both the prestigious New York Fencers Club and the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Akhi has also spent years shaping top-tier athletes at Columbia University with the team claiming 3 national titles during his tenure. His coaching career includes serving as a multi-time U.S. National and Olympic Men’s Saber Team Coach at the Paris Olympics. His students include US Olympic Medalist Daryl Homer, Olympian Khalil Thompson and Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad in addition to the numerous national and international medalists he has coached and developed throughout the years.

Coaching education

Akhi’s education and training are equally impressive—he holds a Maestro’s degree from the renowned Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, a program that has also produced TMFC coaches Iba Keita, Mamodou Keita, and Coach Sall.

Athletic Accomplishments

As an athlete, Akhi represented the United States at the highest levels of competition. He made history as the first U.S. saber fencer to achieve the #1 world ranking as a Junior, a groundbreaking achievement at the time. He competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, became a two-time U.S. National Champion, and solidified his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.

A Vision for TMFC

At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, Akhi will bring his unmatched expertise, passion, and coaching philosophy to help elevate both our developmental and competitive programs. From guiding youth fencers to supporting elite athletes, Akhi’s leadership will be a game-changer for our community. His addition reflects our commitment to providing world-class training and mentorship for fencers at every level.

A Family Affair

Akhi is not only a remarkable coach but also a dedicated family man. He and his wife are proud parents to four wonderful children: twins Zoe and Olivia, who are both 11 years old; Elijah, a 13-year-old saber fencer who is excited to join the TMFC community; and Skye, who is 16 years old.

Achievements as a Coach

• Olympic Coach: Coached the U.S. Men’s Saber Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Columbia University: Guided one of the nation’s top collegiate fencing programs to three national championships.

• Peter Westbrook Foundation: Continues to mentor young athletes, fostering their development in fencing and life.

Welcome to the team, Coach Akhi Spencer-El—we are thrilled to have you with us!

WELCOME TO TMFC
COACH AKHI EVENT!

Friday, February 7
Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - East Side
(235 East 49th between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
5pm-9pm.

To celebrate, the club will operate on a modified schedule with open bouting from 5 PM to 9 PM, accompanied by wine and refreshments for parents and guests in addition to a few remarks!
(Feel free to bring a bottle of wine or a dessert to share!)

If you’re interested in fencing or simply joining us for this special welcome event, please register to fence using the link below and email info@timmorehousefencing.com to RSVP.

Schedule Updates Starting Monday, February 3

With Akhi’s arrival, we are updating the class schedule for the Elite classes on the East Side. The Youth and Musketeers classes will all remain at the same time.

Here’s the new schedule at a glance:

Note:
The bouting classes will primarily consist of open bouting, supervised by our coaching staff.

The updated schedule is listed above. If you would like to register for these new classes, please click on the “Class Registration” link below.

TMFC Welcomes New Faces to the Podium in Austin and Jersey City

December 27, 2024 — Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club! We hope you have had a restful break filled with family, good food, and memories. For those of you participating in our winter camp, we are happy to have you back for a 5-day session of rigorous training, college talks with Columbia University Head Coach Michael Aufrichtig, and a sports psychology lecture from Dr. Michelle Chung. For those of you still relaxing, we will see you next week for regular classes resuming on January 2! We wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the TMFC wins that took place at regional tournaments this past week. Although we were not able to send coaches to either event, we are tremendously proud of our athletes who still chose to represent TMFC at the Ultimate Fencing Cup RYC in Jersey City, NJ and the Austin Challenge SYC/RCC in Austin, Texas. Our fencers did an incredible job of harnessing the self-sufficiency and confidence that we expect and hope to build in our young athletes.

Additionally, we were happy to see some newer faces on the podiums at these events. Many of our fencers have made amazing strides this season and their efforts are paying off in the form of some great results.

Gianni Mele showing off his Top 8 medal in Jersey City, NJ.

AUSTIN RESULTS:

Aidan Song - 7th Place, Y12MS

Luca Yang - 6th Place, Y10MF

Anika Von Marie Kabiling - 8th Place, Y10WS

Charlotte Choi - 7th Place, Y14WS and 5th Place, Y12WS

ULTIMATE RESULTS:

Savannah Li - 2nd Place, Y14WF

Ella Zhu- 5th Place, Y14WF

Kai De Castro- 3rd Place, Y12WF

Owen Tardiff- 2nd Place, Y8MF and 7th Place, Y10MF

Lucas Lin - 8th Place, Y10MF

Lorenzo Mangini - 6th Place, Y10MS

Anna Willer - 8th Place, Y12WS

Gianni Mele - 8th Place, Y14MS

Marcus Avery - 5th Place, Y12MS

Michael Grigoriev - 6th Place, Y12MF

Ellie Paek- 7th Place, Y10WF

Lily Laffy - 6th Place, Y14WS

Sophia Ng - 7th Place, Y14WS

FIRST REGIONAL MEDALS + OTHER HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lorenzo Mangini, Ellie Paek, Anna Willer, Gianni Mele first regional medals
Eli Fields - first regional event with TMFC (top 32 Y12MS at Ultimate)

Kylee Demry- national points earned (top 32 Y12WS at Austin)

If we are missing anyone, do not hesitate to comment down below or reach out to us! We are happy to celebrate all of our fencer’s wins, whether it’s a medal earned or a challenge overcome.

TMFC Rings in the Holidays with Big Wins at Morris Cup RYC/RJCC

December 17, 2024— TMFC had a great weekend at the 2024 Morris Cup, with strong performances and several podium finishes across multiple events.

A standout moment was Grace Feng’s gold-medal win in Junior Women’s Foil, earning her A24 rating—a huge milestone in her fencing career and a great end to the weekend that saw her bring home 2 separate medals. We were also delighted to have former TMFC coach Daniel Bass (now an assistant coach at Cornell University) join us in strip coaching again as well as to have some of our student coaches get the chance to hone their skills mentoring our younger group. Congratulations to all of our medalists and competitors for their hard work and determination throughout the tournament!

We’re proud of every TMFC fencer who competed, regardless of results. Many of our athletes have made big strides this season, showing improvements in skill, strategy, and confidence. These efforts are just as important as medals, and we’re excited to see their continued progress. Thank you for representing TMFC so well, and let’s keep up the momentum as we head into the new year and tackle the full slate of tournaments ahead.

Grace Feng with Coach Mohamed Essameldin after earning her gold medal in Junior Women’s Foil.

TMFC Morris Cup Medalists:

Y12 Women’s Foil
3T - Ella Zhu

Y8 Women’s Saber
1st Place - Akari Tomonari
3T - Isadora Blair

Cadet Men’s Saber
5th Place - Ryan Waxler
6th Place - Lucas Henderson

Y8 Men’s Saber
3T - Ethan Zhang
5th Place - Conrad Silverzweig
7th Place - Christian Eng

Y10 Men’s Foil
8th Place - Ziyue Lin

Cadet Women’s Foil
6th Place - Grace Feng
7th Place - Iris Yang

Y14 Men’s Foil
6th Place - Declan Hart-Syed
7th Place - Kai Toomre

Y12 Men’s Saber
1st Place - Miles Chambers
3T - William Lucas
5th Place - Marcus Avery

Y14 Women’s Foil
6th Place - Anastasia Roberts

Junior Women’s Saber
1st Place - Varvara Mankova
7th Place - Charlotte Choi

Y10 Women’s Saber
3T - Alaia Varah
5th Place - Nia Maluki

Cadet Men’s Foil
6th Place - Jonah Lee

Junior Men’s Saber
7th Place - Jonas Broening-Chai

Junior Women’s Foil
1st Place - Grace Feng (Earned A24 rating)
6th Place - Amabel Wang

Y14 Men’s Saber
3T - Zihou Dai
5T - Miles Chambers
8th Place - Jacob Levin

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Crushes the Competition at Home and Overseas at Atlanta SJCC and Eislingen Cadet International Event

The Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (TMFC) continued its winning tradition both domestically and internationally this weekend at the 2024 Atlanta SJCC and cadet international event in Eislingen, Germany, with standout performances from several athletes across multiple events.

ATLANTA SJCC:

In the Cadet Men’s Saber, TMFC fencer Ethan Kim earned a 3rd place finish, securing an A24 rating, while teammate Miles Chambers placed 8th, earning a B24 rating.

The Junior Women’s Foil event saw Grace Feng finish in 6th place, a solid result among tough competition. In the Junior Men’s Saber, Ethan Kim once again impressed, taking 2nd place, while Gabriel McCarthy earned a 5th place finish.

In the Cadet Men’s Foil, Leon Shapiro secured a 5th place finish, showcasing his skill and consistency. Finally, in the Cadet Women’s Saber, Charlotte Choi earned a 7th place finish, joining Miles Chambers as one of our 2012 birth year fencers who are achieving incredible national results for their age.

EISLINGEN CADET INTERNATIONAL EVENT:

Brynnley Mckee and Keira Lauri traveled to Eislingen, Germany with coaches Ziad Elsissy and Hamdy Refaee for another competition on the international cadet circuit.. Brynnley earned the bronze medal in the women’s saber individual saber and joined Keira to win gold in teams (Keira’s third straight international team gold of the season.)

These impressive results further highlight the strength and depth of the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, with athletes continuing to excel both nationally and internationally. A huge congratulations to all and onwards to Morris Cup next weekend!

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Earns 27 Medals at 2024 NJFA RYC/RJCC

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club had an impressive showing this past weekend at the NJFA RYC/RJCC in Suffern, NY, with our athletes delivering standout results across several events and earning 27 medals in total. This success reflects the hard work and preparation of our fencers, coaches, and support team, marking a particularly strong weekend for the club.

Ella Zhu and Kai De Castro at the podium with Coach Slava.

Foil Fencers Lead the Way

The first day saw TMFC’s foil fencers put on an exceptional performance, earning gold medals in every event they entered at the RYC. From Youth-10 to Youth-14 categories, their consistency and execution on the strip stood out. Ella Zhu took gold in Y12WF, marking her first regional gold medal. Will Qian took gold in Y10MF, and Declan Hart-Syed gold in Y14MF also his first on the regional level. The results underscored the strength of TMFC’s foil program in Port Chester led by Slava Grigoriev, Eddie Grigoriev, and Mohamed Essam. See the bottom of this post for the full list of medalists!

Y10 Saber Girls Shine

Nia Maluki, Chloe Chen, Anika Von Marie Kabiling, and Anita Gao are all smiles on the Y10WS podium.

Youth-10 Women’s Saber also made an impressive statement, claiming gold for Nia Maluki, both bronze medals for Chloe Chen and Anika Von Marie Kabiling, and a fifth-place finish for Anita Gao on day 2. The near-podium sweep highlighted the depth of talent within the team and their ability to rise to the occasion in a competitive field. This marks Nia’s 2nd gold medal of this season on the regional circuit and Chloe’s 2nd bronze.

Building on Success

Kylee Demry shows off her Top 8 Y14WS medal with Coach Noah Te Velde.

While this weekend’s results are not entirely unprecedented, they are a testament to TMFC’s ongoing commitment to growth and excellence. The achievements of our athletes demonstrate what’s possible with disciplined training, thoughtful coaching, and a supportive community. Notable wins for the club included Jacob Levin’s 8th place finish in Y14MS which comes directly after earning his E rating at the TMFC Youth Cup last Saturday in Port Chester, and Kylee Demry earning her E rating from her best-ever regional finish in a stacked Y14WS lineup. It was amazing to see some of our most dedicated fencers make tremendous breakthroughs in their competitive results, and we know this is just the beginning for them. 

With several key tournaments still ahead this season, TMFC is in a strong position to build on this momentum. Congratulations to all the fencers, parents, and coaches who contributed to this weekend’s success. Let’s continue striving to improve, one tournament at a time!

FULL RESULTS:

Y12 Women's Foil

• Ella Zhu 1st

• Kai De Castro 3T

Y8 Women's Saber 

• Akari Tomonari 1st

• Isadora Blair 2nd

Y10 Men’s Foil

• Will Qian 1st

• Luca Yang 7th

Y12 Women's Saber 

• Nia Maluki 7th 

• Nora Louisa McCarthy 8th

Y8 Men’s Saber 

• Conrad Silverzweig 2nd 

• Christian Eng 3T

• Alex Wu 5

Y14 Men’s Foil 

• Declan Hart-Syed 1st 

• Michael Grigoriev 7th

Y12 Men’s Saber 

• Aidan Song 7th

Y14 Women’s Foil

• Anastasia Roberts 2nd 

• Ella Zhu 7th 

Y10 Men’s Saber

• Bennett Sabino 3T

Y10 Women’s Saber 

• Nia Maluki 1st 

• Chloe Chen 3T

• Anika Von Marie Kabiling 3T

• Anita Gao 5th

Y12 Men’s Foil 

• Michael Grigoriev 3T

Y14 Women’s Saber

• Kylee Demry 6th (Earned E24 Rating)

• Sophia Ng 7th

Y14 Men’s Saber 

• Jacob Levin 8th

Junior Women's Saber 

• Pompie Yannopoulos 1st 

Junior Men's Saber 

• Andrew Wasco 2nd

Parents, Ready? Fence! Your Time to Shine Starts Now!

Are you a fencing parent who’s ever wondered what it feels like to step onto the strip?

Or perhaps you’re curious about the sport your child loves and want to learn more about what makes fencing so special. At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, we’re thrilled to introduce our Parent Fencing Lesson Program—a fun, engaging, and informative way for parents to dive into the world of fencing!

Learn About Your Child’s Passion

Our Parent Fencing Lesson Program is designed to give you hands-on experience with the sport your child is mastering. Understand the techniques, strategies, and excitement of fencing firsthand, and gain a deeper appreciation for their hard work and commitment.

No Equipment Needed

No need to worry about buying equipment! We’ll provide everything you need to get started. Just come dressed in athletic attire, and we’ll handle the rest.

Flexible Membership Rates

Our parent lessons are available at competitive rates, with options to suit your schedule. Whether you’re looking for a single trial or a regular membership, we’ve got you covered.

A Great Workout

Fencing isn’t just fun—it’s a full-body workout that improves agility, coordination, and endurance. You’ll leave each session feeling energized and accomplished.

Discover a New Passion

You might find yourself falling in love with fencing, just like your child did! Many of our parents enjoy it so much that they continue training and even compete themselves.

Whether you’re looking to bond with your child, try a new workout, or explore a potential new hobby, our Parent Fencing Lesson Program is the perfect place to start. Join us and see what fencing is all about!

Sign up today and take the first step onto the strip. We can’t wait to see you in action!

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club's Ziad El-Sissy OLY Inducted into Wayne State University Athletics Hall of Fame

November 5, 2024 — Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Coach and 2x Olympian Ziad El-Sissy was named to the Wayne State University Athletics Hall of Fame yesterday. A graduate of the Detroit, Michigan institution, El-Sissy was a major contributor to the Warriors team, achieving the status of four-time letterwinner, three-time All-American and two-time national runner-up in saber (2017 and 2018).  The Alexandria, Egypt native returned to the university to receive a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2021. Since graduating from Wayne State, El-Sissy has competed in 2 Olympics (Tokyo and Paris), finishing 4th in the Paris games this August.

When not competing, El-Sissy works as a full-time coach at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, where he has developed many of our athletes into elite fencers, including Robert Wang (currently 8th in USA Fencing’s Junior Men’s Saber rankings, Stamford Class of 2029 commit) and Brynnley McKee (currently 4th in USA Fencing’s Cadet Women’s Saber rankings). Coach Ziad is a central figure at TMFC and helps shape our curriculum to make us one of the premier fencing clubs in the United States. He represents the future we aim for all our fencers: a balanced path that includes collegiate fencing success alongside strong academic achievements—to become well-rounded, multi-skilled individuals.

You can catch El-Sissy at TMFC’s Westchester County location most days of the week and at TMFC Chelsea Piers in Stamford, CT, where he currently calls home. To see the Olympian in action, you can watch (or even fence!) in the Ziad + Eli Cup on January 1, 2025 at TMFC Port Chester. El-Sissy will ring in the new year by fencing against Team USA 3x Olympian Eli Dershwitz among other elite athletes who make up our TMFC staff and network. SIGN UP HERE: TMFC Ziad and Eli Saber Cup (New Years Day) (4th Annual) | Tim Morehouse Fencing Club | Port Chester, NY | AskFRED

We’d like to wish Ziad a sincere congratulations from everyone at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club!