Cambridge Fencing Center

JAREK KONIUSZ (Founder and Head Coach)
is an Associate Professor in Physical Education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Head Coach of MIT's Women's and Men's Varsity Fencing teams.

Before coming to the US in 1991, Jarek competed internationally for Poland's national team for nearly two decades, taking two individual medals at the world championships (Bronze in 1981, Silver in 1989) before retiring from the sport. Jarek was coached by Ed Korfanty, the current US Olympic Team Coach who led Mariel Zagunis to two Olympic gold medals (2004 and 2008).

Jarek has led a successful NCAA Division III fencing program for over 16 years. His students are among the finalist of the NCAA Division I Championships, including Women's Sabre fencer Caroline Purcell, who captured a historic National Championship title for MIT in 2000. Caroline went on to win a gold medal at the Junior Pan-American Games and make the finals of the Senior World cup in Boston. Keith Lichten'95 after his fantastic performance at the NCAA Nationals captured the first silver medal for MIT in Men's epee event.

In addition, the Cambridge Fencing Center's membership is comprised of a number of Jarek's students who are recognized elite-level fencers both Nationally and internationally, including:

Evangelos Efstathiou, 15th in the senior world cup in Havana
Robin Shin, 5th in the junior world cup in Hungary
Evan Prochniak, 5th in the cadet world cup in Hungary
17th cadet world championships in Italy

PETER BRAND
has led Harvard's men's and women's fencing programs to their most successful era in school history since he joined the Crimson staff prior to the 1999-2000 season.

In that short time, Brand has delivered Harvard its first NCAA team championship, a combined four Intercollegiate Fencing Association three-weapon titles, two IFA six-weapon championships, and a combined five Ivy League titles - three by the women and two by the men. He has also coached 19 All-Americans in his time behind the Harvard bench.

During the summer of 2008, Harvard sent two fencers to the Beijing Olympics, as Emily Cross '08-09 and Noam Mills competed in the foil and epee, respectively. Cross became the first-ever Harvard fencer to medal at the Olympics, as she earned a silver in the women's team foil.

Before taking the reins of the Harvard program, Brand spent six years as the head men's and women's coach at Brown University and previously served as an assistant coach at MIT.

At Brown, Brand guided a successful program that regularly sent qualifiers to the NCAA Championships, which included three members of his 1998-99 team. He coached the Bears' women's team to a pair of New England championships (1994 and 1995), while the men's squad captured the 1993 New England title. Brand was the Northeast Collegiate Fencing Conference's 1994-95 Coach of the Year. While at MIT, he also gave private lessons and one of his students, Peter Cox, was selected to the 1996 United States Olympic Team.

Brand has an extensive background as a competitor as well. In 1972, he was chosen to the U.S. Junior Fencing Team, and one year later was a gold medalist at the Ottawa Shield, one of three elite fencing events held in Canada. He placed seventh at the 1975 Canadian national championships and fourth at the 1985 U.S. Championships. Brand participated in the 1987 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, and in 1989 was a gold medalist for the U.S. at the Maccabiah Games.

Brand is a native of Israel who emigrated to the United States at age 13. He resides in Needham, with his wife, Jacqueline, and sons Alexander and Michael.

ANDREW PROCHNIAK
started fencing at age of 9 and has been fencing for 41 years. He was classically trained in the European style under Maestro Jerzy Gadkowski of Poland and has more than 25 years of competitive fencing experience. Andrew trained with the Polish Junior National Team in the 70's and has won numerous saber competitions in Poland and in the United States.

After he left Poland in 1981, he coached at UMass Amherst, setting the UMass fencing program on a competitive track. He has continued his coaching at Seacoast Fencing Club in Manchester, Amoskeag Fencing Club in Nashua and currently at Brand Club and School of Fencing located at Harvard University.

Andrew's son, Evan Prochniak nationally ranked saber fencer was chosen to represent USA in the World Championship 2008. Evan Prochniak is trained by Jarek Koniusz, MIT's Fencing head coach.

Saber Coach and Tournament Director
Seacoast Fencing Club 1997-2001 Manchester, NH
Amoskeag Fencing Club 2003-2004 Nashua, NH
Brand Club and School of Fencing 2005-Present Cambridge, MA

LEE SHIN
(Director of Programs and PR)
works in support of the sport of fencing.