Name: Emily Cook Position: Footwork Assistant Coach & Secretary Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: Current Assistant Epee Coach at Marian Catholic High School
Current Assistant Epee Coach at Marian Catholic High School
Name: Bob Skurka Position: Saber Coach, President & Armorer Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: NIFC President, Armorer, Saber Coach & Purdue University Fencing Coach. Bob was "Coach of the Year" winner for the Collegiate Midwest Fencin Read more
NIFC President, Armorer, Saber Coach & Purdue University Fencing Coach. Bob was "Coach of the Year" winner for the Collegiate Midwest Fencing Conference in 2025 and is a 2020 USA Fencing "Spirit of Sport" Award Winner. Bob is also a frequent guest coach at various universities in the midwest. Bob is a volunteer Saber Coach at Homewood Flossmoor HS. Past volunteer at Marian Catholic HS, Past Saber Coach at Lowell HS
Name: Kendra McPheeters Position: Foil Coach & Vice-President Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: NIFC Vice-President & Foil Coach
A former competitive fencer at Purdue University.Assistant Coach. & Foil Coach at Homewood Flossmoor H.S Read more
NIFC Vice-President & Foil Coach
A former competitive fencer at Purdue University.Assistant Coach. & Foil Coach at Homewood Flossmoor H.S. Past Foil Coach at Lowell H.S.
Name: Marek Stepien (OLY) Position: Epee Coach Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: Olympian, World Cup Medalist, Collegiate and Olympic Coach. Epee Maestro. Foil Maestro. Saber Maestro. International FIE referee. Marek Read more
Olympian, World Cup Medalist, Collegiate and Olympic Coach. Epee Maestro. Foil Maestro. Saber Maestro. International FIE referee. Marek is the former Head Coach of Cambridge University (UK) and former Epee Coach at University of Notre Dame.
Name: Rob Miernicki Position: Armory Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: Rob has joined the NIFC Armory, he has extensive experience in both electronic and mechanical design, building and repair.
Rob has joined the NIFC Armory, he has extensive experience in both electronic and mechanical design, building and repair.
Name: Reese Butta Position: Assistant Epee Coach Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: Reese is our youngest coach, a certified USA Fencing Referee up to Regional level, has extensive National competition experience as was prim Read more
Reese is our youngest coach, a certified USA Fencing Referee up to Regional level, has extensive National competition experience as was primarily trained by Olympian Marek Stepien. Reese has been co-coaching our Youth Epee program.
Name: Lauren Reese Position: Assistant Epee Coach Email: NIFC.webmaster@gmail.com Bio: Lauren is a member of the US Fencing Coaches Association and has taken clinics and classes on developing her coaching skills. A former high Read more
Lauren is a member of the US Fencing Coaches Association and has taken clinics and classes on developing her coaching skills. A former high school competitor with experience in both Saber and Epee. She has national experience in both weapons but now exclusively fences Epee. She currently leads the Youth Epee classes, her primary coach is Olympian Marek Stepien.
