Brian Toomey
Owner
Foil/Epee Coach
After many years of martial arts training and study, Brian took an elective at UNCC. It was fencing 101. He was enthralled with the sport from the first day. That was over 10 years ago.
Brian immediately joined the UNC-Charlotte Fencing Club and came under the training and supervision of Matt and Jen Cox. After they left to pursue further training and Olympic aspirations with the Oregon Fencing Alliance, Brian sought out further training and coaching instruction in all three weapons with a variety of clubs throughout the Charlotte area.
In 2000, he came back to UNC-Charlotte as the fencing coach. But his ambitions grew to more than coaching the University's students. He knew, that for the sport to grow in the area, there was a greater need for an area facility where coaches and students alike would focus on training and learning.
With an ambitious agenda, an open mind to new methods and an open door to all who want to learn, Brian, in 2002, left the University and opened the Charlotte Fencing Academy.
Colleen Gallant
Foil Coach
In 1987, looking to meet new people and just have some fun, Colleen took a fencing class at Central Piedmont Community College. She was instantly hooked, so much so that she continued fencing there for over a year.
To further her training and progress in foil and epee, she took it upon herself to travel weekly to Columbia, SC to train with noted coach Michael Tarascio in late 1988 through 1991. Her efforts were rewarded by success in local and regional tournaments and qualification in foil for the '90 and '91 Nationals. As her love of the sport increased, so did the time constraints of her career and in due course she had to curtail her training.
In the fall of 2003, at the Charlotte Fencing Academy, Colleen was able to revive her passion and commitment to the sport, and we're extremely pleased to have her as part of our staff.
While Colleen's main weapon is foil, she also enjoys the challenges of epee. Her reemergence in the sport has also resulted in her continued tournament successes.
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Competitive Highlights
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2006 North Carolina Division Women's Foil Gold Medalist
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2006 Reno North American Cup Women's Veteran Foil - 3rd Place
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2005 Sacramento Summer Nationals Women's Veteran Foil - 7th place
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2005 North Carolina Division Women's Foil - Gold Medalist
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2005 Innagural Iron Maiden Open, Wilmington NC - Gold Medalist
2004 Richmond North American Cup Women's Veteral Foil - 7th place
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2004 North Carolina Fall Circuit Event Women's Foil - Gold Medalist
Her further training and coaching at the Charlotte Fencing Academy will lead her and her fellow students to reach for higher goals and undoubtedly continued success.
Sidney Fligel
Foil Coach
Sidney Fligel began fencing when he was just 13 years old. Originally from Westchester, New York, he began fencing for Ardsley High School. This is where he met Joe Fisher, who later began to coach him at Fencing Academy of Westchester. Sid fenced there for 4 years, until he left for college where he is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
After taking his freshman year off to focus on his school work, Sid looks to rejoin the fencing community, not solely as a participant, but as a coach. He hopes to use his fencing knowledge and experience from training with some of the US’s prominent coaches like Michael Marx, Gary Copland and Slava Gregoriev to teach the students at CHFA all he knows.
Sid fences both foil and epee and is a B rated fencer in both.
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