David Sierra

COACH

David Sierra is a certified Maitre d’Armes – a Fencing Master – by the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) and the Academe d’Armes Internationale (AAI). A long time professional fencing coach, he brings passion for the sport and experience with him. He also serves as the Head Men’s and Women’s Fencing Coach for the Division I NCAA program at Wagner College and as Education Manager and a Certified Coach Developer for the USFCA. Maitre Sierra’s Coaching Philosophy is centered on the long-term development of the athlete, focused on technical and tactical excellence, a collaborative learning environment, and a strong code of ethics and accountability.

David Setlow

COACH

I have been a member of the Staten Island Fencing Center since 2004 when my daughter Corinne & I began with an 8-week introduction course. My wife, Deborah, knowing my fascination with sword fighting in movies, found out about the club and signed us up. I was 48 at the time and Corinne was 13. We both enjoyed it so much we became club members and took regular classes every week. Corinne joined her high school fencing team at the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan and became the team Captain and assistant Coach and led the team to its first PSAL playoffs in years.

Oreste Schiavone

COACH

With over four years of competitive experience in epee at both the NYC and national levels, I bring a dynamic and disciplined approach to the sport. I began fencing in college while earning my degree in Dance and Art at Hunter College, where I honed both my athletic and artistic instincts. My background in dance gives me a unique edge on the strip—combining balance, timing, and precision in every bout. Whether training or competing, I bring creativity, focus, and a deep respect for the sport’s tradition and strategy.

Kate Sierra

COACH

Kate Sierra has been a fencer for over 20 years and competes locally, regionally, and nationally, and internationally. She was a member Team USA for the Veteran World Championships in Bahrain in November 2025, placing 7th in the individual competition and was part of the 4th place team. Kate holds the rank of Prévôt de Sabre and is a member of the Veteran Committee for USA Fencing. She loves fencing because it gives her a diverse set of friends, opportunities to travel all over the country, and it has profoundly shaped who she is—the discipline, focus, and strategy it teaches carries over into so many other areas of life. When Kate isn’t fencing, she is a Senior Instructional Designer at Seton Hall University. She is a Ph.D. student there as well in the Education Leadership, Management, and Policy program.

Jacob Wischnia

Fencing Ventures CEO

As an overly energetic eight year old, sabre was the only practical option for Jacob. At 14, in an effort to learn the virtues of patience, he switched weapons and went on to become a top Cadet and Junior épée fencer, and an All-American at UPenn. In the business world, Jacob worked in startups. After a seven-year stint in healthcare tech, he rejoined the fencing world in 2021 by purchasing the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia from his former coaches. Since acquiring his old club, he has grown its membership base to 400+ members across four locations. He is also the owner of Modern Duelists in Elkton, Maryland, and has grown MoDuel from 25 members to 70+ in under a year. Jacob recently started competing again, and is looking to dominate the Vet 40’s in a few years. Careful, though…combining his desire to move fast with patience, his countertime game is quite strong.