Worcester / Massachusetts / United States
About Worcester Fencing Club Worcester Fencing Club was founded in January of 1998 by Head Coach Doug Galpin. The club originally operated under the name Worcester Academy of Fencing, but as that was in direct conflict with a prestigious prep school of a similar name, the name was changed in the spring of 1999. Doug taught fencing at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester since the Fall of 1996, and was often asked where students could continue their studies. Regretfully, there was no choice but to send them to either Watertown or Woonsocket. Neither of these options were acceptable to the students and for some time nothing much was done. One day, however, the concerned mother of a couple of students took some initiative, and suggested that Doug get in contact with Bob Berman at the Worcester Jewish Community Center. Bob was definitely interested in the program, and after some negotiating, the club started in early January of 1998 with a handfull of students, two nights each week. At the start of the 98-99 season, the club had 18 members, and had doubled by the start of the 99-2000 season. By this time, the schedule had expanded to 9 classes each week held over four nights, and one afternoon.
