Coaches
PVFA coaches are trained, certified, are bound by the USFCA Code of Ethics and Safesport rules, and do not tolerate abuse or mistreatment of our students. We believe that we offer a safe environment for our students that is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination, and the trust we have gained from them and their parents reinforces that belief.
PVFA coaches are trained, certified, are bound by the USFCA Code of Ethics and Safesport rules, and do not tolerate abuse or mistreatment of our students. We believe that we offer a safe environment for our students that is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination, and the trust we have gained from them and their parents reinforces that belief.
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Fencing Master Paul Sise
Certifications: Maitre d'Armes (Master in Foil, Epee, and Saber) - United States Fencing Coaches Association and the International Academy of Arms Senior Coach Developer - United States Fencing Coaches Association Examiner Trainer - United States Fencing Coaches Association Level 3 - United States Fencing Association Coaches College in foil, epee, and saber Level 3- USFA Armorers College Leader Level-American Sport Education Program USA Fencing Professional Member and SafeSport Certified Foil, Epee, and Saber Referee Life Member of USA Fencing, USFCA, and WFencing Safesport Certified Paul Sise trains both fencers and coaches. He teaches beginner through advanced classes and individual lessons in foil, epee, and saber. His students range from recreational fencers to A-Rated fencers, college fencing scholarship recipients, and national and international medalists. Several of his students have also earned coaching and refereeing certifications. Paul is the author A Basic Fencing Companion, and "Height Differences in Epee Fencing and Strategies for the Shorter Fencer" which was his thesis for Fencing Master certification. He is the author of several articles that have been published in "The Swordmaster" magazine. From 2011 to 2020 he was a member of the Certification and Accreditation Board (CAB) of the United States Fencing Coaches Association and served as the board's Chairman for two years. Paul was also a member of the USFCA's 2017 and 2019 Coaches Academy staff. Currently, he serves on the USFCA's Professional Development and Ethics Committees. Sise is also the head coach of the Amherst College Fencing Club. Maitre Sise was honored with the "Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in the Coaching and Teaching of Fencing" by the US Fencing Coaches Association in 2026. For those interested in becoming fencing coaches, or improving their current skills, Paul offers coaching clinics in the New England area along with John Krauss of the Down East School of Fencing. |
Fencing Master RJ Ferullo
Certifications:
Maitre d'Armes (Master in Foil, Epee, and Saber) - United States Fencing Coaches Association and the International Academy of Arms
Level 1 Foil, Level 2 Epee and Saber - USFA Coaches College.
Leader Level-American Sport Education Program (ASEP)
Safesport Certified
Robert "RJ" Ferullo teaches the saber class and is available for saber lessons on Tuesday nights. He is the Head Coach of UMass Fencing and was the head coach for the Northampton High Fencing Team for over a dozen years. He co-authored the essay "Coaching Fencers with Learning Disabilities " which was published in the Winter 2006 edition of "The Swordmaster" magazine.
Certifications:
Maitre d'Armes (Master in Foil, Epee, and Saber) - United States Fencing Coaches Association and the International Academy of Arms
Level 1 Foil, Level 2 Epee and Saber - USFA Coaches College.
Leader Level-American Sport Education Program (ASEP)
Safesport Certified
Robert "RJ" Ferullo teaches the saber class and is available for saber lessons on Tuesday nights. He is the Head Coach of UMass Fencing and was the head coach for the Northampton High Fencing Team for over a dozen years. He co-authored the essay "Coaching Fencers with Learning Disabilities " which was published in the Winter 2006 edition of "The Swordmaster" magazine.
Kelly Fitzroy
Certifications:
Moniteur d' Armes - Foil, Epee, and Saber- USFCA
Safesport Certified
Kelly teaches the Saturday Youth Class and mentors the youth class assistant coaches.
Certifications:
Moniteur d' Armes - Foil, Epee, and Saber- USFCA
Safesport Certified
Kelly teaches the Saturday Youth Class and mentors the youth class assistant coaches.
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Camilla Sise
Certifications: Prevot d'Armes - USFCA, AAI Referee in Foil, Epee, and Saber Safesport Certified Camilla is the head coach of the Northampton High School's fencing team. She also helps with coaching duties at PVFA. Camilla has earned national medals in every weapon. |
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Zeno Doeleman
Certifications: Moniteur d'Armes- USFCA, AAI Coach Doeleman started at the ripe old age of 7 at PVFA where he trained as a three weapon fencer and eventually a coach. He earned PVFA's first medal at the US National Championships when he was 14. A musician, he moved to Nashville after high school and started fencing and coaching there. He competed successfully at the Div 1 level, earning and re-earning his A rating in epee multiple years in a row and eventually he caught the eye of 5X Olympian Michael Marx. Doeleman then spent three years coaching for Marx where he produced 2 world team members, 8 NAC medalists, 2 national champions, and a world cup gold medalist. Now he's excited to be back home and to train PVFA's future champions. Doeleman is also the head coach for the Smith College Fencing Club. |
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Walker Sorensen
Certifications: Moniteur de Saber - USFCA Assistant Moniteur de Fleuret - USFCA Safesport Walker is a graduate of UMass, Amherst, where he was saber squad captain for their fencing team under Coach Ferullo. He will be available for saber lessons Saturday afternoons. |
Aurora Colter
USA Fencing Coach Member and SafeSport Certified
Aurora is a PhD student in physics at UMass, Amherst where she is studying high-energy physics and black holes. Prior to UMass and PVFA, she fenced saber for Penn State's Div 1 fencing team. Coach Colter is also the assistant coach for the Smith College Fencing Club.
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Willa Barman Certified Moniteur d' Armes - Foil, Epee, and Saber- USFCA Safesport Certified Certified referee in foil, epee, and saber. USA Fencing Coach Member Willa is a competitive epee fencer, musician, and gymnast. She is a former four-year captain of the Northampton High School fencing team. Willa has attended several of the USFCA's National Coaching Development Program clinics and a clinic with Olympians David Micahnik and Tyrone Simmons. Willa helps coach the summer and winter clinics when she's not away for college and fencing for Lawrence University's NCAA team. |
Youth Class Assistants Our teenage fencers have the option to earn USFCA coaching certification through our Assistant Moniteur program by helping to teach our Youth fencing class.
Our current youth assistants are:
Our current youth assistants are:
Elliot Dinsmore
Certified referee in foil, epee, and saber.
Elliot a three weapon fencer and is the captain of the Northampton High School fencing team. He assists Coach Fitzroy during the Youth class. Elliot attended the USFCA NCDP Core clinics in the fall of 2024 and 2025 and spring of 2026.
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Madelyn Wilson Maddy is an epee fencer and an avid member of Scouting America. Her leadership skills and enthusiasm for helping others help make her a great member of our coaching team. She assists coach Fitzroy with the youth class when she is not away camping. Maddy attended the USFCA's spring 2025 NCDP Moniteur clinic in Orland Maine. |