Shawn Bertel, Head Coach

Head Coach Shawn Bertel brings over 50 years of fencing experience and more than 45 years of coaching in foil, épée, and sabre. He is SafeSport Certified and fully cleared through USA Fencing background checks.

Coach Bertel has trained fencers at all levels and attended coaching courses at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He served 8 years as an officer in the United States Air Force, working as an engineer, instructor, athletic program director, and commander. While Head Coach of the Men’s and Women’s fencing teams at the Air Force Academy, his teams achieved top-10 national rankings, with the Women’s team winning the Western Athletic Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Before founding Lancaster Fencing Academy, Coach Bertel led clubs at the Lititz Rec Center and Spooky Nook Fencing Academy. He has been a member of the Lititz area for over 30 years. After retiring from Johnson & Johnson after 29 years, Shawn dedicates his time fully to fencing. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and together they have four sons and two grandchildren.