EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - HEAD FENCING COACH PHILIP DALY

  Coach Philip Daly is the Executive Director and Head Sabre Coach of the Long Island Fencers’ Club.

Coach Philip Daly has enjoyed the sport of fencing for more than fifty years as a nationally competitive foil and sabre fencer, fencing referee, and fencing coach. Coach Philip Daly started fencing at the age of 12.  Fencing became a proud family tradition as four of his brothers also fence. As if that wasn't impressive enough, Coach Philip Daly’s son Jeffrey, grandchildren Liam and Ryan, nephews Conor, Ryan, and Shane also tried fencing. 

In 1977 at 17, Coach Philip Daly started fencing saber and became a nationally ranked sabre fencer, placing fourth and seventh at his first two national saber tournaments. 

In 1978, at 18, Coach Philip Daly began refereeing high school fencing in Suffolk and Nassau County.

In 1979, at 19, Coach Philip Daly entered the United States Air Force and proudly served his country until 1985. Coach Philip Daly was promoted to Staff Sergeant after serving only three years, six months, and one day. During Coach Daly's tenure at Spangdahlem Air Base, Coach Philip Daly was assigned as a Security Trainer and responsible for developing protocols and lesson plans, instructing classes, and performing educational quality assurance exams for the Security Police Squadron. While stationed in Germany, Coach Philip Daly continued to fence with a German Fencing Club. 

While stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Coach Philip Daly was selected as the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Month, Quarter, and Year for the Security Police Squadron. Coach Philip Daly was selected as the NCO of the Quarter for McConnell Air Force Base and the Wing. While in service, Coach Philip Daly also worked part-time to support his family and volunteered as a "Big Brother". 

In 1985, Coach Philip Daly accepted a position with the Suffolk County Police. 

Department and, before the end of his second year, was designated a "Field Training Officer" responsible for mentoring and training newly assigned members of his precinct. 

In 1992, Coach Daly was promoted to Detective and participated in over 40 thousand felony criminal investigations before retirement. 

In 1992, Coach Philip Daly began to referee for the United States Fencing Association as a nationally rated Fencing Referee in all three fencing disciplines: Epee, Foil, and Sabre. 

Coach Philip Daly also refereed for the National College Athletic Association and subsequently became the Chief Referee for the Eastern College Athletic Conference. Coach Philip Daly is exceptionally proud of his efforts to diversify the Collegiate Fencing Referee Pool. 

As the Chief Referee for the E C A C, Coach Philip Daly was responsible for recruiting, assigning and training collegiate fencing referees for Boston College, Brandeis University, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Princeton University, Saint John’s University, University of Pennsylvania, Vassar College, Yale University, the Intercollegiate Fencing Championships and the NCAA National Championships.

In 1996, Coach Philip Daly and his wife Christina founded Proprintwear, a screen printing and embroidery business that served as the "Official Merchandiser" for the United States Fencing Association. Coach Philip Daly was also the "Official Photographer" for the United States Fencing Association and is proud of his legacy in promoting the sport of fencing. As Proprintwear and the Official Photographer, Coach Philip Daly is proud to have financially supported the development of fencing on the local, regional, national, international, and collegiate levels. 

Proprintwear was the “Official Merchandiser” for the Suffolk County Police Memorial Fund. The Suffolk County Police Memorial Fund cares for the families of fallen Police Officers by providing support to surviving family members. As a member of the Law Enforcement Community, Coach Philip Daly has dedicated numerous hours and financial resources in his support of this organization.

Coach Philip Daly has an extensive history coaching baseball, fencing, football, and soccer, spanning more than thirty years. Coach Philip Daly is proud to be a Long Island Fencers Club member.

Coach Philip Daly is a Lifetime Coach with the United States Fencing Association, SafeSport trained and Criminal Background Checked, Red Cross certified, Boy Scout of America Youth Training, and a nationally rated Fencing Referee in all three fencing disciplines.

Coach Jason Palmer is the Head Foil Coach of the Huntington location of the Long Island Fencers Club.

Coach Jason Palmer started fencing at age 16 and was the youngest entrant in the 1981 Senior Nationals. He was classically trained under Semyon Pinkasov and Stanislav Bardakh. He was Varsity Foil and Team Captain at Walt Whitman High School and went on to fence Varsity Foil at New York University under Coach Steve Kaplan.

Coach Palmer holds a Level 1 Foil Coaches Certificate from US Fencing.

As a lifelong competitor, Coach Palmer specializes in and teaches tactical and competitive Foil fencing techniques in addition to emphasizing the fundamentals of fencing, such as footwork and proper form.

When not fencing or coaching, Jason enjoys Sailing and Tennis. He is a life long resident of Huntington. His day job is as a CPA who is Financial Technology and Compliance Specialist with a focus on Management Consulting, Business Process, and Cybersecurity. 

Coach Michelle N. O’Brien was Captain of the Walt Whitman High School Fencing Team her junior and senior year and went on to fence as an NCAA Division I athlete for St. John’s University. Coach O’Brien has continued her fencing career actively competing in the three fencing disciplines. Coach O’Brien is a certified Sports Coach with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA).

In 2005, Coach O’Brien coached the Commack High School Junior Varsity and Varsity Fencing Teams and subsequently began coaching the Huntington High School Fencing Teams. Coach O’Brien has produced numerous All-League, All-County and All-Long Island Fencers. Coach O’Brien has been recognized once as the Section XI Men’s Fencing Coach of the Year and twice as the Section XI Women’s Coach of the Year. Coach O’Brien has earned the respect of her fellow Section XI Fencing Coaches and has held the office of Section XI Fencing Coaches’ Association President since 2019. In February of 2020, the Huntington High School Girl’s Fencing Team was selected as the Section XI Sportsmanship Award recipient. 

Coach Michelle O’Brien is a Lifetime Coach with the United States Fencing Association, SafeSport Certified and Criminal Background checked. Coach O’Brien is an American Red Cross Certified Instructor of Lay Responder First Aid/CPR/AED. 

Coach O’Brien has more than twenty-two years’ experience as the Cheerleading Coach with Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf actively competing in annual Deaf Cheer competitions. Coach O’Brien is proud of her squad’s accomplishments at the Deaf/Hearing competitions. In fact, under the instruction of Coach Michelle O’Brien the Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf Cheerleading Team earned the distinction of being the “ONLY” deaf/hearing team to place in the top 5 in the Long Island Cheerleading Championships Association.

Coach O’Brien is a permanently certified New York State Teacher of Special Education and Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped. Coach O’Brien has worked as speech/language therapist helping autistic youths develop their communication skills through voice, sign language, assistive technology, and is proficient in American Sign Language.

As if Coach O’Brien’s resume wasn’t impressive enough! Coach O’Brien has found the time to act as the advisor for the School Yearbook, Student Body, Junior NAD, assist in Community Fund Raising Events, and act as a Research Assistant for school safety, technology and communications.

EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

New York State Professional Certificate Educational Technology Specialist K-12 (pending exam)

New York State Professional Certificate School Building Leader (pending exam)

New York State Permanent Certification, Special Education, N-12 (1998)

New York State Permanent Certification, Speech and Hearing Handicapped, N-12 (1998)

EDUCATION:

Long Island University, CW Post Campus, Brookville, New York - Master of Science in 

Special Education 

Adelphi University, Garden City, New York - 33 Graduate Credits in Audiology

St. John’s University, Jamaica, New York - Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology

Coach Michelle O'Brien is a registered Coach with the United States Fencing Association, SafeSport trained and Criminal Background Checked.

Coach Nikolas Escobar graduated from Brentwood High School, attends Stony Brook University, and works full-time as the Assistant Manager of a local business. Coach Nikolas Escobar is majoring in Cyber Security with a minor in Criminal Justice and seeks a career in law enforcement.

Coach Nikolas Escobar volunteered from 2018 to 2021 as an Coach at Brentwood High School, aiding in developing group and individualized training programs. 

Coach Nikolas Escobar has worked at the Espiguita Soccer Academy as a coach and referee for youth volleyball players, developing drills targeting teamwork and critical thinking. Coach Nikolas Escobar is known to play a game or two of volleyball himself!

Coach Nikolas Escobar is proud of his Argentine, Colombian, and Chilean heritage and is a welcomed addition to our Student Coaching core. 

 Coach Arly Aguilar began her fencing career in 2015 at Brentwood High School and was an All-League and All-County Fencer multiple times. In 2019, Assistant Coach Aguilar was selected as the Head Varsity Girls Fencing Coach at Centereach High School, responsible for developing training regiments for basic and advanced fencing techniques for Epee, Foil, and Sabre while effectively communicating athlete development with parents regularly. In her tenure as Varsity Coach of Centereach High School, Coach Aguilar’s fencers have earned awards and placements in Section XI Fencing Tournaments. Most recently, three (3) of Assistant Coach Aguilar’s fencers finished in the top five of Suffolk County!

In 2020, Coach Arly Aguilar graduated from Suffolk Community College as a Certified Nursing Assistant and subsequently graduated from Farmingdale State College, majoring in Nursing. Coach Arly Aguilar is a Certified Nursing Assistant trained in  Phlebotomy and electrocardiogram.

In her professional life, Coach Arly Aguilar is an office manager for a large medical office, supervising employees and managing patient treatment plans and financial agreements. Coach Arly Aguilar is a first-generation American, bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English, and is proud of her Honduran and Salvadoran heritage. 

Coach Arly Aguilar is a talented individual whose heart is filled with love for our sport, and he is a tremendous step toward establishing our fencing club as a beautiful environment to learn the Olympic Sport of Fencing.

Assistant Coach Brandon Guzman aspires to serve his country with the United States Marine Corps and is majoring in Chemistry. 

In the eighth grade, Coach Guzman began jumping up the school stairs and continued doing so through his senior year. Brandon’s ability to seemingly leap tall buildings in a single bound went unnoticed by the high school coaches in his district, and he was never recruited to become a member of a high school team. Unbeknownst to Brandon then, he had embarked upon the world of plyometric training as he jumped up those stairs. 

As a younger man, Coach Guzman pursued the sport of soccer for several years; however, neither soccer nor other sports captured his spirit. In May 2022, roughly a month before turning eighteen, Brandon discovered the Olympic Sport of Fencing. Then, Coach Guzman came under the tutelage of Head Coach Philip Daly and began his life’s journey as a Sabre Fencer. Brandon worked tirelessly and engaged in personalized training sessions for the next thirty days, accelerating his development and placement into the Advance Sabre Class.

Our head fencing coaches will mentor Coach Guzman and will assist in conducting fencing classes. Coach Guzman is an excellent addition to the Long Island Fencers Club staff and another example of what sets us apart from other Long Island Fencing Clubs.

Coach Guzman is a man of diverse interests and rich heritage. He takes pride in his Filipino and Jewish roots, actively celebrating both. In his leisure time, Brandon enjoys various activities, from reading and cycling to the occasional Yo-Yo session, showcasing his vibrant personality and diverse interests.

Coach Guzman is a passionate fencer and a registered Coach with the United States Fencing Association. He has undergone SafeSport training and a thorough Criminal Background Check, ensuring his qualifications and commitment to the sport.

The Long Island Fencers’ Club is pleased to announce the acquisition of Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez. Student Coach Nicholas Ramirez is presently a student at Oyster Bay High School and a member of the Oyster Bay High School Varsity Fencing Team having recently earned an All-County Sabre Fencer designation for his superior performance this season. Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez distinguished himself and earned the status of Scholar Athlete at Oyster Bay High School. Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez was also a member of the Cross Country Team. 

Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez is exceptionally hardworking and dedicated in every aspect of his life, with an unweighted average of 93.41 and a weighted average of 107.21. He will graduate with a Regent’s Diploma with Advanced Designation. Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez is on the Principal’s Honor Roll, a Member of the National Honor Society, a Member of the Tri-M Honor Society for Music, and a Student Athletic Leadership Program Member. Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez is an accomplished Trumpet player for the Jazz Band and a Team Captain of the Robotics Club.

Assistant Coach Nicholas Ramirez is actively pursuing the rank of Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 253. He has served as a Senior Patrol Leader, was elected Order of Arrow Nominee, Boy Scout Honor Society, was selected for High Adventure Camp experience at Philmont NM, and earned 100+ Community Service hours. 

Assitant Coach Nicholas Ramirez has volunteered for weeklong Group Missions, rendering home improvements to economically disadvantaged families, and aiding the Youth and Family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay, and the Portledge Summer Adventures. 

Executive Director Philip Daly is highly proud of Assistant Fencing Coach Nicholas Ramirez and looks forward to all his future achievements!

The Long Island Fencers’ Club is pleased to announce the acquisition of Student Coach James Grassie.

Coach James Grassie is an aspiring clinical psychologist attending a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at SUNY Old Westbury. James' additional academic achievements include an Associate Degree of Art in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Nassau Community College.

As a fencer, James Grassie fenced for Oyster Bay High School and was selected as a Team Captain. He was an All-County Fencer and a Nassau County Senior All-Star Team member. Before joining the Long Island Fencers’ Club, James had also fenced with the Stony Brook University Team.

Coach James Grassie is a Unitarian Universalist who believes in the Golden Rule, loving our neighbors as ourselves, working for a better world, searching for truth with an open mind, using reason to help us explore religious ideas, and granting everyone the right to choose their beliefs.

Coach James Grassie celebrates his Colombian and European heritage, loves exploring science fiction novels and movies, and engages in strategy-based video games. He considers himself a lifelong fan of the Olympic sport of fencing.

Executive Director Philip Daly welcomes Student Fencing Coach James Grassie and looks forward to all his future achievements!

The Long Island Fencers’ Club is pleased to announce  Ashley Kowalczyk  (Oyster Bay) has joined us as a Student Fencing Coach.  Student Coach Ashley Kowalczyk began her journey into Olympic Fencing at Oyster Bay High and attended Stony Brook University.

In 2017, Student Coach Ashley Kowalczyk was awarded the "Girl Scout Gold Award".  The "Girl Scout Gold Award" winners are rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes. 

Education

B.A. Stony Brook University, English Teacher Prep - December 2020

M.A. Stony Brook University, English - August 2021

Hempstead High School, ELA Teacher – August 2021 to Present

Achievements

Summa Cum Laude Honors - 2021

Goldis Endowment Award - 2020

Stony Brook Dean’s list 2017 to 2021 (cumulative GPA 3.95)

Member of Stony Brook Sigma Beta Honor Society

Girl Scout Gold Award – 2017

Fencing Achievements

USFA E-rating in Foil - 2024

Executive Director Philip Daly welcomes Student Fencing Coach Ashley Kowalczyk and looks forward to all his future achievements!

The Long Island Fencers’ Club is pleased to announce Mia Santana (Sayville ’23) has joined us as a Student Fencing Coach.  Mia Santana’s academic achievements are mind-bending with a 4.0 unweighted average, 104.02 GPA, College Board AP Scholar with Honors, College Board National Hispanic Recognition, a member of RISE (Research in Science and Engineering), and is pursuing an AP Capstone, Regents with Advanced Designation with Honors Diploma; New York Seal of Bi-literacy/Spanish.

As a student-athlete, Mia Santana was:

● USA Fencing All-Academic 1st Team 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22

● USA Fencing All American Honorable Mention 2021-22

● High School National Honor Society

● 2022 World Language Honor Society

● College Board AP Scholar with Honors

● 2022-23 College Board National Hispanic Recognition Scholar

As a High School and nationally competitive Fencer, Mia Santana was: 

● Team Captain 2019-Present

● Most Improved Award 2019-20

● MVP 2020-21, 2021-22

● All League 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

● All County 2020-21, 2021-2022, 2022-23

● All Long Island 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

● Section XI Women’s Epee County Champion 2022-2023

● Newsday All Long Island Fencing Team 2022

● 3rd Place Brentwood Holiday Tournament 2022

● Newsday Top 10 Girls Fencers on Long Island 2023

● Qualified Junior Olympics 2019, 2020, 2021

In her spare time, Mia Santana enjoys Dance-Tap/Jazz and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

● Dance-Tap/Jazz 2007-Present

● Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 2014-Present

Mia Santana’s community volunteerism includes: 

● Lucky Black Cats of New York Volunteer 2017-Present 

● Anchor International 2021-Present

● Student-Athlete Advisory Committee 2023-Present

Mia Santana is a member of the Sayville High School Art Club, Film Club, Forensics Club, History Club, Newspaper, and Yearbook Committee.

Editor's Note:  Mia Santana is a member of Mission Fencing and not a student of the Long Island Fencers' Club.

  The Long Island Fencers’ Club is pleased to announce Zachary Zukofsky (Sayville ’21) has joined us as a Student Fencing Coach. Student Coach Zachary Zukofsky started fencing in the 6th grade and joined the Sayville Varsity Fencing Team in the 8th grade, earning First Team All Suffolk County honors in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Zachary was selected as Sayville Men’s Fencing Team MVP for the 2018/19 high school season. It is no wonder Zachary gravitated towards fencing as it was in his blood. Zachary’s grandfather was a fence; his family originates from Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, and Israel.  

While attending Sayville High School, Zachary completed AP Comparative Government, AP World History, AP Literature, AP Lang, VEI, and two Robotic courses through SUNY Farmingdale while working at a local 7-11 convenience store. 

Student Coach Zachary Zukofsky attends Drew University, where he studies Economics with minors in Business and Photography. Zachary is a member of the Drew University NCAA Fencing Team and is presently a “C” rated Epee fencer. In addition to his studies and fencing, Zachary is a RHA Tolley Representative responsible for representing the concerns of roughly 50 dorm residents.

Student Coach Zachary Zukofsky is present a three (3) weapon accredited fencing referee in Epee, Foil, and Sabre and has officiated multiple tournaments for the New Jersey High Schools.

When it comes to volunteerism and social responsibility, Student Coach Zachary Zukofsky is no stranger to hard work. Student Coach Zachary Zukofsky has served as an Executive Board member of the Apolonio Albuquerque Project, which feeds the homeless. Zachary’s volunteerism includes Art Without Walls, Reality Check, Marureens’s Haven Backpack Pirates, Chabad (CTeen), and Stage the Change/Youth Bureau. 

Editor's Note: Zachary Zukofsky is a member of Mission Fencing and not a student of the Long Island Fencers' Club.

The Long Island Fencers' Club is proud to announce Lucia Kasper is joining us as a Student Coach.  

As Captain of the Cold Spring Harbor High School Fencing Team in her Junior and Senior years, Student Coach Lucia Kasper conducted daily training practices and coached other fencing team members.  

Student Coach Lucia Kasper’s leadership and organizational skills were fully displayed at the College of William and Mary.  As the Fencing Team Captain, Lucia was elected Captain of the Fencing during her Junior and Senior years.  

As Captain, Lucia’s administrative talents and logistical abilities became self-evident as she ran practices, scheduled travel and lodging, planned and organized, and hired tournament staff. As if Lucia’s plate wasn’t already full, she also coached other team members.

EDUCATION

College of William and Mary 2024

Degree: BS in Psychology, member of Psi Chi Honors Society, graduated magna cum laude, graduated with honors with a 3.73 GPA.

Captain of William & Mary Fencing Team 

EDUCATION

College of William and Mary 2024

Degree: BS in Psychology, member of Psi Chi Honors Society, graduated magna cum laude, graduated with honors with a 3.73 GPA.

Captain of William & Mary Fencing Team

WORK EXPERIENCE

TOWN CENTER COLD PRESSED 2023-2024

Barista at an on-campus cafe. 

ANGELIC DELIGHTS CATERING. Summer 2021-2024

Catering for large parties, food service and event organization.

COLD SPRING HARBOR BEACH CLUB. Summer 2021-2022

Food preparation and client service.

OPEN WIDE FOUNDATION. Dental Mission: Antigua Guatemala. Summer 2019

Patient admission and registration. Conducted dental hygiene education programs at mission sites and local schools. Polished teeth of patients after dental appointments. Required use of Spanish language skills.

BLANCA'S HOUSE. Dental Mission: Guayaquil, Ecuador. Summer 2018

Created and conducted dental hygiene educational programs benefiting the local underserved population. Served as hands-on dental assistant.  Required use of Spanish language skills.

CATAMOUNT SKI MOUNTAIN. Winters 2019-2022

Private ski lessons for all ages and experience levels.

CAMP ALVERNIA. Counselor. Summer 2017

SKILLS

Python, SPSS, Excel, Psychopy, Google Sites

RESEARCH 

Honors thesis research project in which she researched sleep paralysis and how it manifests across cultures.

She completed a research project with human subjects as part of her cognitive psychology research capstone on the effects of technology use on the development of an extended memory system, specifically for facial recognition.