Alex Martin formerly of the Fencers Club in New York City, is returning to Calgary where he was introduced to fencing at a summer camp. He has always been interested in teaching, so coaching became a natural outlet to combine his passion for teaching and the sport he loves. Alex is coaching National and Olympic Team Members and will continue this at EPIC. Alex has coached NCAA individual champions, cadet and junior World Champion, Junior Olympic champions in men and women’s foil, National and Olympic Team. Alex’s students currently fence for universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Upenn, Stanford, and Notre Dame. “As the head coach of Columbia University’s fencing team, I am responsible for recruiting the best student-athletes from all over the world. Alexander Martin has a proven track record of producing athletes that excel in both fencing and academics which has led me to recruit many of his students to our program throughout the years.” Columbia University Fencing Coach Michael Aufritchtig.

Formerly coach of Gladiators Fencing Club for 20 years. Elya is excited to be returning to EPIC. He began fencing in Edmonton, was 7-time national champion in multiple categories including senior and senior team events. After leaving the sport to complete University, he came back to training relocating to Calgary with Epic Fencing Club in the 2000-2001 season, winning a National Championship in MF with Epic by team and an individual medal to end his competitive career. Coach of Jr and Senior national team members, multiple college athletes in Canada and USA, he is excited to continue teaching all levels of fencing and contributing to a larger, more successful, and diverse fencing community in Calgary.

Kelleigh’s journey to the Olympic Games is a tale of dogged determination and full-on devotion to a sport that dominates all aspects of her life. Kelleigh “The Rock” Ryan first earned her place on the Canadian women’s fencing team in 2008, she’s been there at every single championship competition for Canada – a run of 15 straight years. Kelleigh has won the most Pan Am Championship medals of any fencer in Canadian history, was ranked as high as 9th internationally, and holds the second highest Olympic result in Canadian history. Kelleigh has a love training and learning. Kelleigh is not only a fencing coach, she also earned a Masters of Kinesiology and is a Strength & Conditioning coach and Administrator at Epic!

Kali has represented Canada internationally in both modern pentathlon and fencing, notably qualifying for the 2014 youth Olympics. In modern pentathlon where she finished first in fencing and finished 16th overall She has also competed at both Junior and Senior Fencing World Cups.

Kali began her coaching journey in 2014 while attending the University of Calgary and has continued to coach at a number of clubs in Alberta. Kali enjoys helping individuals get the most out of themselves, and has a deep appreciation for the sense of achievement and confidence building that a sport can provide at all levels.

Kali is a referee who is pursuing her National refereeing certification and has refereed provincially, nationally, and in the USA. She sits on the Canadian Fencing Federation Gender Equality Committee and is a member of the Alberta Fencing Association Board.