Ripa Joins Harvard Fencing Staff as Coaching Assistant

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Alexander Ripa has joined the Harvard fencing staff as a coaching assistant, according to an announcement by head coach Peter Brand this week. Ripa will work with the Crimson men’s and women’s foil squads.

Ripa has coached numerous elite fencers who have competed internationally and nationally and he has guided a number of champions and medalists at the Cadet World Championships, National Championships, Junior Olympic Championships and the Cadet Designated World Cup. He has also instructed current Harvard fencers James Harwot and Anna Podolsky, former Harvard fencer Kai Itameri-Kinter '09 and members of the United States National team.

As the owner and head coach of the Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club in Warren, R.I., which he founded in 1994, Ripa has trained and supervised coaches, organized and implementing elite athlete training, taught group classes and private lessons and recruited and managed athletes.

Ripa holds a Moniteur certificate in the foil, epee and sabre from the United States Fencing Association/Academie d’Armes Internationale. He also has earned a level 1 sabre and epee and level 3 foil certificates from the United States Fencing Association Coaches College. He is a level 6 United States Fencing Association rated foil and level 8 rated epee and sabre referee. Ripa is a member of the USFA Youth Development and USFA Schools/Clubs Committees and holds a Coaching Principles Certificate from the American Sport Education Program.

Ripa graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1995.

Photo courtesy DSPics.com.