Akhi Spencer-El Selected to USA Fencing Hall of Fame
5/31/2019 1:14:00 PM | Fencing
Columbia's sabre coach was an Olympian and two-time USA National Champion
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Columbia fencing's sabre coach Akhnaten Spencer-El was selected for induction into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame, announced May 30. Spencer-El, a 2000 Olympian, has been a part of the Lions' staff since 2013.
Spencer-El is a three-time U.S. Junior Sabre National Champion, a two-time Senior National Sabre Champion (1999, 2000) and was formerly ranked the No. 1 Junior Sabre fencer in the world (1998). He represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics and served as the United States Women's National Team Saber Coach for the 2011 Pan-American Games in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
"I remember when Akhi was the top USA sabre fencer like it was yesterday," said Columbia head coach Michael Aufrichtig. "Now he is the coach of the top US sabre fencers. We are honored to have him as part of our fencing family."
During his stint with Columbia, the Lions have won three NCAA Team Championships and 10 Columbians have gone on to earn All-America honors at sabre. Throughout his coaching years, Spencer-El has coached numerous elite fencers, including Ibtihaj Muhammed, the 2009 Women's National Sabre Champion and 2016 Olympian, Dan Bak, the 2009 NCAA Team Champion, and Adrian Bak, the 2009 Junior National Team Champion.
