Coaches Page

Head Coach Boyko Krastevitch - Epee Coach

E-mail: Krastevitch_B@hotmail.com, Phone: (727) 481- 7393

Boyko Krastevitch is a graduate of the Bulgarian National Sport Academy and has worked with the Bulgarian National Fencing Team for twenty eight highly successful years as an athlete and coach.

The list of his athletic and professional awards is impressive. He has been a member of the Bulgarian National Fencing Team and has participated in many World Championships, World Cup Tournaments and World Student Championships from 1975-1985. He was sixth at the World Student Championship in Bucharest, 1981. He was the National cup holder in 1980 and was Junior Champion in 1973. He won the Balkan Fencing Championship team in 1977, 1978 and 1980. In 1980 Boyko Krastevitch was 8th on the European Fencing championship Foga, Italy.

During the period 1979-1980 he was coaching the Junior Team in C S K A and was a Sport Club coach. In 1980 his fencers were epee champions of Bulgaria.

During the period 1985 1987 Maestro Krastevitch was assistant coach of the National Bulgarian men’s epee team.

Assistant Coach Richie Valderrama

Assistant Coach Levente Bajan

E-mail: kendrewke@yahoo.com

Coach Ken Drewke

Assistant Coach William McKenna

E-mail: CoachD@TampaBay.rr.com Phone: (813) 767-1722

Coach Gerry Duran

E-mail: selltampabay@yahoo.com

Coach Alexander Bondarenko (Sasha) - Foil Coach

Fencing coach with 36 years experience specializing in foil. Alexander Bondarenko attended  Sports University of Saint Petersburg Russia from 1974 to 1978. He graduated with masters degree in fencing and started training children and adults. His students competed in a lot of championships and won such big titles as: Middle School Champion of Sports in USSR, High School Championship of USSR, Junior Champion and a Prize Winner of Russia and many titles in champions of Stavropol Region where he was from. Currently specializes in individual and group foil coaching.

Coach Drewke is a multi-disciplined fencer who teaches Epee and Saber. He is one of the top ranked referees in Florida and is the Central Florida Division Chairperson. He is well versed in competitive competition at the highest level as a former Olympian in Archery. He likes to listen to Barry Manilow and Marilyn Manson. He is a former president of the Tampa Bay Beer Sausage Polka Club. An avid fisherman, Ken has been know to break out in spontaneous disco fever dancing when the fishing is especially hot. He denies the rumor that John Travolta once hired him as a private dance coach.  He is highly regarded in the fencing community. 

Coaching recreational sport fencing has been part of Coach Gerardo's life since 1987. In that year he attended a  fencing coach's Foil and Sabre seminar in Orlando FL. From that day on, he knew that “he was a Fencing Coach". All that was needed now : the skills of "the Fencing Coach".

To start his new career, he attended in 1991 and 1992 the United States Fencing Association's (USFA) Coaches College at the Olympic Training Center (OTC), Colorado Springs, founded “Tampa's Fencing Academy” Tampa Florida, and became a lifetime member of the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association.

 Ten years later at age 62 It was time to retire from his day job to dedicate 25 hours a week in teaching and coaching sport fencing at the Academy and local private schooled.  Coach Duran revisited the Coaches College in 2005 for 3 weeks of coaches training (EPEE, FOIL,SABRE) and was privileged to attended a seven day seminar “Sport Fencing The Unity of Theory and Practice”, with renowned Polish Fencing Master and Coach Professor Zhigniew Czajkowski. Coach Duran teaches recreational Olympic Sport Fencing at Berkeley Preparatory School and Tampa Fencing Academy, Tampa FL.

Richie Valderrama is the Beast from the East. At 6’ 4”, he has medaled in numerous tournaments and is a B rated fencer in epee. He has trained with Boyko for 6 years. An accomplished actor, Richie’s had many significant acting roles. His most memorable always seem to involve characters who wave pointy things and wear tights. Although it was never proven, Richie was strongly suspected of leaking sensitive rebel information to the press (AKA Miss Mary’s Corner) during the rebellion that ousted Ken Drewke from the Tampa Bay Beer Sausage Polka Club Presidency. It is also rumored that Richie may be a contract hit man for the Chinchilla Snack Gang. He trains the younger fencers in Epee.

Levente Bajan is an “A” rated fencer who has trained both here and in his home country Hungry. He has medaled in numerous tournaments. He likes Polka music and watching Barney re-runs. He took over as president of the Tampa Bay Beer Sausage Polka Club during a violent rebellion that was rumored to involve secret Chinchilla Snack Squads and huge disco raves. He trains the younger fencers in Epee and is a devoted big brother.

William McKenna is an “A” rated fencer who has trained with Boyko for 7 years. He has medaled in numerous tournaments including Silver Medal at the ‘09 Sunshine Games. He likes to listen to Hanna Montana and watching Tele-Tubbies. He is a member of the Tampa Bay Beer Sausage Polka Club. Many believe he was the head of the Chinchilla Snack Gang. He is feared by many, on the strip and anywhere snack food can be found. He trains the younger fencers in Epee.