Your Coaches
Head Coach + Foundations, Sabre, Épée, Wheelchair
Brandon Kennel
Brandon Kennel is a founding coach and Chair of The Forest City Fencing Club, with over 20 years of fencing experience and a decade of coaching in Sabre. Earning a Bronze W for OUA performance at with Western University, competing at NAC events, and training across North America and Europe, Brandon brings a diverse expertise to fencing and mentoring. Brandon's coaching rests on three pillars: technical excellence by drilling technique into instinct, athletic development by treating physical and mental conditioning as inseparable, and fencing theory by emphasizing bout-to-bout decision making. He hopes to pass on his philosophies and successes to all his future athletes.
Coach + Foundations, Sabre, Wheelchair
Vas Economopoulos
Vas, a community instructor, has over 20 years of fencing experience and was a member of the Western Varsity sabre fencing team for 7 years, competing in OUA championships. She brings a passion for learning to the club and enjoys seeing students grow and succeed in their journey through the sport.
Coach + Foundations
Karen Laansoo
Karen brings 15 years of fencing experience and decades of multi-sport experience to her coaching role at FCFC. Karen competed internationally at three senior world cups in épée, two satellite events, and two Commonwealth Fencing Championships. She earned five international fencing medals, and has won three national-level events across senior (open) and veteran events. Karen competed for Western at OUAs in 2023/2024 and co-coached the Western Varsity team for the 2024-2025 season. Karen loves to share the joy of fencing and is looking forward to her role as beginner/community coach at FCFC.