Ariana Klinkov Named Head Fencing Coach at Cornell

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Ariana Klinkov, Wellesley's Head Fencing Coach and Physical Education Instructor, has accepted the position of Head Fencing Coach at Cornell University.

Klinkov joined Wellesley in July 2015, following a five-year tenure as head fencing coach at Tufts University, and transformed the program into a regional power, posting back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19, including a program record 23 wins in 2018-19.

"We are happy for Ariana to take this professional career step, but will certainly miss her here at Wellesley," said Bethany Ellis, Director of Athletics and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics (PERA). "We wish Ariana well and are grateful for her contributions to Wellesley Fencing."

Last season, Wellesley won its first New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference (NEIFC) three-weapon championship and qualified 10 student-athletes for the NCAA Northeast Regionals. In four seasons at Wellesley, Klinkov led the Blue to a 70-38 overall record with 33 NCAA Regional qualifiers.

Klinkov has enjoyed tremendous success as a head coach at both the college and high school level. 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 guided the Concord-Carlisle High School fencing team to three state championships, including the combined men's and women's six-weapon title in 2015.

An experienced instructor, Klinkov has taught fencing at Phillips Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy and has coached multiple NCAA All-Americans. In addition to her work 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.

A graduate of Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Klinkov was a member of the 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.