Elite program pairs world-class coaching with rigorous IB academics at historic Connecticut boarding school
CHESHIRE, Conn. — Jan. 14, 2026 — Cheshire Academy today announced the launch of Apogee Fencing at Cheshire Academy, an elite competitive program offering promising international fencers the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of the sport while earning their diplomas from one of America’s oldest boarding schools.
This select cohort will train on a rigorous schedule with a team of seasoned coaches led by renowned Yale University coaches Marat Israelian and Jeremy Goun, who are recruiting for the program now. Israelian, Apogee Fencing head coach, has led the Yale Bulldogs to three top 10 finishes at the NCAA Fencing Championships, and has coached seven All-Americans, 12 All-Ivy competitors, and two Ivy League champions. Apogee Fencing Coach Goun is assistant coach of Women’s Fencing at Yale and has served as chair of the Connecticut Division of the U.S. Fencing Association for several years.
Apogee fencers will train on Cheshire Academy’s campus and at top-flight Connecticut facilities.
All Apogee fencers must be accepted to and enrolled at Cheshire Academy, a World International Baccalaureate® (IB) school located in the picturesque town of Cheshire, Connecticut. Apogee fencers will enjoy a residential experience on campus and participate fully in the college preparatory school’s extensive range of clubs and activities. They will be eligible to earn a full International Baccalaureate (IB) or bilingual (Mandarin) IB diploma, choose a Global Citizenship Diploma Distinction pathway, or focus on art and music in addition to fencing.
Dedicated Support for Top-Flight Athletes
Training and competing at a sport’s top level requires time, focus, and dedication. CA will provide fencers with support and guidance through its signature Roxbury Center for Learning & Leadership and four-year College Counseling program. The Roxbury program enhances student learning and growth with a customizable pathway for student athletes that develops resilient, self-aware learners equipped with tools for executive function, healthy habits, and stress reduction.
Elite fencing experience, paired with high-level academics, is often a desirable combination for many colleges and universities. In the AFCA program, CA’s professional college counselors will guide and support student athletes as they explore academic interests and strengths and discover top-notch schools where they might continue to develop in their sport.
At Home in an International Community of Learners
Coaches Israelian and Goun are recruiting top fencers from around the world to compete for Apogee at Cheshire Academy, which is proud of its reputation as one of the top internationally minded private high schools in the United States.
Founded in 1794, CA has been enrolling international students since 1850 and currently welcomes students from 18 countries and five continents. The school offers a dedicated International Student Office and coordinator; a peer counselor program for new students; affinity groups and clubs; and monthly, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break on-campus programming for international students.
In addition, fencers who opt into the school’s international student program will receive SEVIS/F-1 Visa and I-20 support, ELL classes, transportation to nearby airports, train stations and shuttles for major school breaks, and TOEFL registration and transportation assistance.
About Cheshire Academy
Founded in 1794, Cheshire Academy is a coeducational college-preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate. With 394 students from 13 states and 18 countries, Cheshire Academy takes a tailored approach, providing students with a wide variety of academic and extracurricular offerings that are optimal to their individual needs, strengths, and interests. Located in Cheshire, Connecticut, the 104-acre campus rests in a quintessential and safe New England community conveniently located between New York and Boston. Cheshire Academy’s supportive, one-to-one college counseling program begins early on, resulting in commitments to some of the country’s most competitive colleges and universities. With a wide range of programming, Cheshire Academy offers the world-renowned International Baccalaureate, Roxbury Center for Learning & Leadership, and unique, signature Art and Music Major programs. The Academy is home to 17 athletic teams, with over 30% of student-athletes in the Class of 2025 going on to play at the collegiate level. Learn more at cheshireacademy.org.
