Wellesley Athletics Welcomes Ariana Klinkov as Head Fencing Coach

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College Director of Athletics and Chair of the Physical Education and Recreation Department Bridget Belgiovine has officially announced that Ariana Klinkov has been named Head Fencing Coach and Physical Education Instructor at Wellesley College.

"We are thrilled that Ariana will join the Wellesley Athletics program as our next head fencing coach," said Belgiovine. "Ariana brings a diversity of experiences within the sport of fencing and a commitment to competitive fencing excellence, which is important for our program's continued success."

Klinkov joins Wellesley following five years as head fencing coach at Tufts University, having enjoyed tremendous success as a head coach at both the college and high school level. In five years at Tufts, she coached the highest number of NCAA Regional Qualifiers in the program's history, as the Jumbos sent eight fencers to the NCAA Northeast Regional this season after sending 10 fencers to the competition in 2014. In addition, Klinkov has guided the Concord-Carlisle High School fencing team to three state championships since 2006, most recently winning the combined men's and women's six-weapon title earlier this year.

"I can't wait to get to work this season," said Klinkov. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to work alongside the incredible students and staff at Wellesley. Wellesley is a world-renowned institution but I hope to also put it on the map as a collegiate fencing destination."

An experienced instructor, Klinkov has taught fencing at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. since 2007 and Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H since 2004. Her work at Phillips Academy Andover included the development of a three-weapon fencing curriculum to instruct a club program of 30 to 40 students in foil, épée and sabre. At Phillips Exeter, Klinkov was an instructor for the prep and club sports programs, privately coaching numerous students that went on to fence at the NCAA level.

Klinkov has coached multiple NCAA All-Americans as well as Columbia University's Jeff Spear, the 2008 NCAA Women's Sabre National Champion, and Daria Schneider, the 2007 NCAA Men's Sabre National Champion. Spear went on to fence for the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, while Schneider became a two-time team bronze medalist at the World Fencing Championships.

In addition to her works as a coach and an instructor, Klinkov is also a member of the Fencing Officials Commission and is an Internationally Licensed U.S. Fencing Referee. She was the first female referee to officiate a world championship gold medal match in sabre and is the first female three weapon referee in the world.

As a competitive fencer, Klinkov was a member of 1995 US National Champion Women's Sabre Team, the 1998 US National Silver medal Women's Sabre Team and the 2003 US National Silver medal Women's Sabre Team.

A graduate of Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Klinkov is a certified Paramedic, having worked at Action Ambulance in Wilmington, Mass. since 1999.