Instructors

Zeke Talmage

Zeke joined Tri-Blade Fencing Academy when he was around 12 years of age, as a PE credit for his schooling. He quickly developed his fencing skills and began to assist Maestro Craig with teaching new fencing with the basic skills. He was allowed to instruct the entire class in his mid-teens.

In 2011 Zeke joined Kyle in co-instructing at a local school district, starting with one class one day a week, and the program grew from there.

Accomplishments as of the fall of 2024:

  • Over 2000 hours of personal fencing

  • Over 4500 hours of instructing

  • Competed in Foil and Epee

  • Instructed / Coached one member to the Junior Olympics

  • Board Vice President – “New Order of Chivalric Knight” the parent organization of Tri-Blade Fencing Academy

  • Co-developed inter-club Classic French Fencing Tournament, “Bring It On” & “Bring It On – Team Up”

  • Public School Program – development committee

  • Instructor – Gull Lake Virtual Partnership fencing program

  • Previous Instructor – Gull Lake High School fencing program

Kyle “Tank” Wilder

Kyle and Stacy came to the club in 2007, the club was offering a session during their lunch hour. Kyle eventually began assisting Maestro with new student in the basics skills. As his skills grew also did his responsibilities with in the club. Kyle wanted to invest in the club so he began helping with various back-end functions, from finding new locations to basic bookkeeping and filing all needed paperwork to become 504(c)3.

2011 Kyle was approached by a local school district about bringing fencing into their new homeschools program, where he honed his instructing skills.

In the fall of 2022 after the loss of our founder, Craig Smith, Kyle was elected President and took on those responsibilities.

Accomplishments as of the fall of 2024:

  • Over 1000 hours of personal fencing

  • Over 3000 hours of instructing

  • Board President and Treasurer – “New Order of Chivalric Knight” the parent organization of Tri-Blade Fencing Academy

  • Co-developed inter-club Classic French Fencing Tournament, “Bring It On” & “Bring It On – Team Up”

  • Public School Program – Lead development committee

  • Instructor – Gull Lake Virtual Partnership fencing program

  • Instructor – Gull Lake High School fencing programs

  • Author of “Swords of Truth” “Basics of Fencing & Character Development”

Stacy Wilder

Stacy began instruction in the spring of 2023 as an assisting to Kyle at Gull Lake High School.

Accomplishments as of the fall of 2024:

  • Began Fencing 2007

  • Year an a half of co-instructor at Gull Lake High School fencing programs