Coaches' Bios

Kristian Anderson, Assistant Associate Coach

Coach Kristian served as Head Coach from 2004 to July 2008.  He is experienced in all 3 weapons: foil, sabre and epee. He has received an A rating in foil, C in sabre, and currently has an E in epee.  Kristian is a rated director in all three weapons. Coach Kristian started fencing in 1992 when the University of Nebraska offered fencing as a club sport.  He was trained under Damon Scaggs, Kit Boesch, Janos Gasparin, and Archil Lortkipanidze.  "I love to fence" has been Kristian's motto from the day he began fencing.  Kristian has reached the finals in many regional and local tournaments and is excited about every aspect of the sport.  Kristian specializes in training foil fencers but has been known to teach individual sabre fencers as well.  He has had numerous fencers receive national medals, as well as regional and local 1st place finishes.

Kit Boesch, Assistant Coach, Adult Fencers

Coach Kit served as Head Coach from the beginning till forever.  She has been fencing for 40 years and was trained under Mary Heinicke, Ted Katzoff, Janos Gasparins, Archil Lortkipanidze, and others.  She is experienced in foil and sabre.  She likes fencing because of the personal challenge it offers.  Coach Kit's comments when asked why she likes coaching: "The sense of self satisfaction one gets when a fencer succeeds—maybe a small step, maybe a huge one—in fencing and in life; it's worth every second spent!" She is most proud of the four rules LFC has adopted and equally as proud of the coaches who enforce them.  "Any rules that can last 28 years must be good for something!"  Coach Kit works as the Human Services Administrator for Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska.  She enjoys fencing, golfing, reading for fun, and the Green Bay Packers!

Joshua Bush, Assistant Coach

Coach Joshua is a Sabre coach and is experienced in all three weapons.  His ratings are B in Sabre, B in Epee, and D in Foil.  Coach Joshua has been fencing for 12 years.  He was taught under James Askew, Cassidy Kovanda, and Archil Lortkipanidze.  He is also a rated director in Foil.  Coach Joshua enjoys fencing. "It is the fastest Martial Art in the world."  He also likes coaching to help his students and teammates win! His proudest accomplishments are 3rd place Epee Team Mens 1996 Summer Nationals; 2nd place Division ll Mens Sabre 2001 NAC Overland Park, KS; 2nd place Division lll Epee 2000 NAC Overland Park, KS; 6th place Sabre Division lll 2000 Grensboro, NC; 4 time Nebraska State Sabre Champ; and 3 time Nebraska State Epee Champ.  Coach Joshua works in aquarium maintenance and enjoys fishing, hunting, snowboarding, shooting, gunsmithing, fish keeping and playing the guitar.

Eric Gonzalez, Assistant Coach

Coach Eric teaches all three weapons and has been fencing for 12 years.  He has a B rating in Foil, B in Epee, and a C in Sabre.  Coach Eric trained under Kit Boesch, Archil Lortkipanidze, and Kristian Anderson.  He likes fencing for the "aggressiveness, competitiveness, and the satisfaction of training hard."  As a coach, he likes to watch others improve and mature as fencers.  Eric currently teaches the Beginners Youth class. Coach Eric has been a Heartland Circuit Sabre Champ.  He works as a highway design technician, and his hobbies and interests are playing the violin and guitar, biking, playing frisbee, video games, and of course, fencing!

Cassidy Kovanda, Head Coach

Coach Cassidy became Head Coach in July 2008.  He is experienced in Epee and Foil and has been fencing for 17 years.  He was trained under Kit Boesch and Janos Gasparin.  Coach Cassidy has an A07 rating in Epee and B08 in Foil.  He is also a rated director: Foil-6, Epee-6, and Sabre-7.  He likes fencing for the speed, technique, and strategy.  He enjoys reaching new goals.  He feels it's a sport that can never be mastered; you can always choose a new aspect to focus on to take yourself to the next level.  What Coach Cassidy likes most about coaching, "I like helping fencers exceed their own expectations. I like to see a fencer 'click' and make the jump to the next level.  I also like to fine-tune technical flaws."  When asked what he is most proud of, his reply: "I'm most proud of my 4 national medals and my first place finish at the Remenyik one year after my knee surgery."  Coach Cassidy works for Archrival, Lincoln, Nebraska, as a graphic designer / illustrator and animator.  His interests are art, music, movies, and video games.

Damon Scaggs, Assistant Coach

Coach Damon teaches Foil and Sabre and has been fencing for 25 years.  He has a C rating in Foil and an E in Sabre and trained under Kit Boesch and Janos Gasparin.  Coach Damon is a member of the Fencing Officials Commission and is a rated director with a 1B in Foil, 2B in Epee, and a 3 in Sabre.  He feels fencing is fun and like all sports. "It has the capacity to teach good life lessons."  When asked what he enjoys about coaching, his reply: "The satisfaction of seeing someone succeed and knowing that you might have some small part in that.  The ability to have a positive influence on people's lives."  Coach Damon works for Davis Desgin in computer software.  His interests and hobbies are his family, fencing, and a little poker. 

Brad Tucker, Assistant Coach

Coach Brad teaches all three weapons and has an A rating in Epee and B rating in Foil.  He has been fencing for over 10 years and trained under Kit Boesch, Sarah Hall, Jessie Franks, and Cassidy Kovanda, along with many others.  When asked what he likes about fencing, "I love everything, the people, the workout, the challenge, the victory, sometimes the losses, but mostly the victory!"  As his role as coach, Brad loves helping others and seeing them improve.  He is proud of every one of his medals and awards! Coach Brad is a carpenter who specializes in building cabinets, and his interest and hobbies are fencing, biking and most sports.