CTF Coaches
Jennette Starks-Faulkner (Owner, Head Coach)
Jennette Starks-Faulkner brings over 17 years of national and international competitive fencing, and over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience to the Connecticut Fencers Club.
She has been the Summer National and North American Circuit Veteran Foil Champion eleven times since returning to competitive fencing in 2006 and has earned a spot on the Veteran World Championship Foil Team consistently since 2007 as well as the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Veteran World Champion USA Saber Team. Representing team USA, Jennette won a bronze medal in foil at the 2007 Veteran World Championship in Sydney Australia, a silver medal in foil at the 2011 Veteran World Championship in Moscow, Russia, a silver medal in saber and the gold medal in foil at the 2014 Veteran World Championship in Debrecen, Hungary, and a silver medal in saber and the gold medal in foil at the 2016 Veteran World Championship in Straulaund, Germany!! She is the 2016 Cam/Am Veterans Cup Combined Women's Foil gold medalist and the Women's Combined Saber silver medalist. These titles helped her earn the 2016 Can/Am Veterans Cup Master at Arms Champion title. Jennette renewed her “A” classification at the 2012 Summer Nationals in Division 1A after a 28 year absence from competitive fencing.
Jennette is a former senior national-points holder and was a North American Circuit Champion, a National Champion finalist and a member of the 3-time National Foil Championship Team Salle Csiszar. She was a member of the Brooklyn College fencing team coached by Denise O'Connor. She is an All-American, holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Brooklyn College and was an assistant coach at Temple University.
Currently, Jennette is a USFCA certified fencing instructor and teaches at Moorland Hill School in Berlin (Kensington), Neat Marketplace in Hartford, Simsbury Parks and Recreation, and Granby Parks and Recreation where she conducts recreational and competitive classes, private and semi-private lessons, summer camps, and specialty classes for legally blind and unified sports students. Since 2010, her students have qualified for every Summer Nationals & Junior Olympics. In addition her students include Connecticut High School champions as well as top rated national veteran finalists, and World Veteran Championship Team members.
Alex Gioiella (Assistant Coach-Saber)
Dr. Bonnie L Hennig-Trestman (Assistant Coach-Foil, Business Manager)
Bonnie first stepped onto a fencing strip in the 1980's when she signed up for a class at Boston University as an undergraduate. She was intrigued but did not have time to pursue the sport. She returned to fencing in 2005 believing she would become a recreational fencer.
Local tournaments became regional tournaments, which became national tournaments. She began winning medals at multiple national tournaments and in 2014 finished her last year in the Women's Foil 40-49 age category ranked second in the country. Her goal became to make a World Veteran Championship Team. Bonnie qualified for the 2015 World Veteran Championship Team for the Women's Foil 50 -59 age category and participated in the games in Limoges, France representing the USA.
Bonnie is coached by Jennette Starks-Faulkner and teaches foil. She is also the business manager at Connecticut Fencers Club.
Dr. Hennig-Trestman is the Director of the UConn Health Huntington's Disease Program, has a private therapy practice in Avon. She is married to Robert L. Trestman, MD, PhD who is also a fencer at CTF and between the two, they have five children.
Elaine Saunders (Assistant Coach-Foil and Epee)
Elaine began her fencing career in 2002 at Simsbury High School when the SHS fencing club was founded. She continued to fence in college at UMass Amherst and was captain of the foil squad for the 2005 to 2006 season. She participated in the club nationals in 2006 (foil) and 2007 (epee). She was introduced to epee at UMass, which has become her preferred weapon.
Elaine returned to Simsbury High School in 2008 as the head coach of the fencing club where she has coached consistently to the present. She became the Assistance Coach at Connecticut Fencers Clubs in 2013.
