Our Coaches

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Kathy Vail, Head Coach and owner of Dunwoody Fencing Club, is a professional epee coach certified by the United States Fencing Coaches Association and USA Fencing.  Coach Vail completed her training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.  She recenly completed USA Fencing's year-long Leadership Academy. She has been selected as a mentor in USA Fencing’s Project Empower, a program to support and promote women as coaches.  She is a member of the Review Board of the Classical Academy of Arms. Coach Vail is the co-founder and current Chairman of the Georgia High School Fencing League. She served as the United States Fencing Coaches Association's vice-president for the Southeast. Coach Vail is a past Chairman of the Georgia Division of USA Fencing, was nominated for Developmental Coach of the Year in 2011 and named a USA Fencing Spirit of Sport Champion in 2018.  She has served as USA Fencing's Regional Coordinator for the Southeastern US.  She is past Chairman of the USA Fencing Scholastic/Collegiate Task Force and member of USA Fencing's Club Member Services Committee.  She is past Chairman of the United States Fencing Coaches Association Professional Development Committee. She is also an NFHS accredited interscholastic coach and a professional member of the United States Center for Coaching Excellence.  In 2019, Coach Vail was honored to receive USA Fencing's Outstanding Service Award in Youth Fencing. Fencers trained by Coach Vail have won national championships and earned medals in local, regional, national and international competition.  She has also trained fencers who have earned college scholarships and who compete in NCAA Division I programs

Jacob Wachtel is a member of USA Fencing and certified by the United States Fencing Coaching Association. Coach Wachtel won USA Fencing's 2013 Connor Porter Memorial Scholarship and was team captain for Pope High School. He is a USA Fencing certified referee who referees at the regional level.  He has coached the Milton High School fencing team and is currently an educator at Marietta High School 

Mason Huffmaster is a member of USA Fencing and certified by the United States Fencing Coaching Association. He has fenced for 12 years, participating in the Georgia High School Fencing League and was team captain for Pope High School in his senior year. Currently he is coaching North Atlanta and Campbell High School fencing teams

Richard Shaw is a founding member of Dunwoody Fencing Club.  He holds the coaching record for most Championship wins in the GHSFL. Coach Shaw has competed in local, regional and national competitions and is a four- time Georgia State Champion in the Veterans Division.