RIFAC : Coaches
Alex Ripa: Owner/Head Coach
Alex has coached numerous international and national medalists, including national gold medalists in both individual and team events.
He coached RIFAC's women's foil team to the gold medal at the 2001 Summer National Championships and produced the 2003 Division II Men's Foil National Champion. In 2005, Alex's student Kai Itameri-Kinter became the Junior Olympic National Champion in the Junior Men's Foil event. Recruited to fence for Harvard, Kai helped the Harvard team win the 2006 NCAA championships and was named All American. In 2008, Alex's student James Hawrot earned a spot at the Junior World Championships representing the USA in the Junior Men's Epee individual and team events. Alex's student Kathryn Hawrot won the Division IA National Championships in Women's Foil two years running: 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Alex's students Peregrine Badger (Men's Epee) and Wilfred Curioso (Men's Foil) represented the USA at the Cadet World Championships. Only the top three junior and cadet fencers in the USA qualify to represent their country at the Junior/Cadet World Championships.
Alex presently coaches very successful international competitors as well as national, regional and local fencers of all ages and skill levels. His students hold international rankings and top positions in the US national point standings. His students span all age groups, and many are New England Division champions.
Alex holds coaching certifications through the United States Fencing Association and the United States Fencing Coaches Association, which is recognized by the Academie d'Armes Internationale. He is a member of the United States Fencing Association's Youth Development Committee, as well as the USFA's Schools/Clubs Committee. He is also a nationally ranked referee in all three weapons.
His coaching philosophy centers on athlete individuality, and he has created a remarkably successful physical and mental fencing training program that succeeds in producing champions in life, as well as in fencing.
Alex founded the Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club in 1994.