USA Fencing is pleased to announce Kathy Vail is a recipient of the 2017-18 Fencing Spirit of Sport Award. This national award recognizes members of the fencing community who have exemplified outstanding dedication to the sport and are an inspiration to others.
Coach Vail was nominated by Mr. Terry White, chairman of the Georgia High School Fencing League.
Coach Vail may as well be known as the godmother to high school fencing in Georgia. As the vice chairman of the Georgia High School Fencing League for 14 years, Vail has helped develop thousands of fencers. She started the first fencing club recognized by a public Georgia high school in 2003 and has now brought 15 of the 19 member schools into the league, coaching all except two during their first year. In 2015, she expanded the GHSFL to include B.E.S.T. Academy (Business, Engineering Science & Technology) at the Benjamin S. Carson Center, a Title 1 school, marking the first high school fencing team in a Title 1 school in metro Atlanta. Vail also has organized demonstrations to promote high school fencing in the Capitol Rotunda the last three years.
“None of this would ever have happened without Kathy’s passion, vision, organizational expertise, interpersonal skills, networking abilities, selflessness and sheer determination,” White said.