Coach Sophie: LPFC Founder and Senior Coach

Sophie Rheinheimer is lead instructor and coach of the Las Positas Fencing Center. Her two greatest passions, teaching and fencing, are always in evidence here. Sophie stresses learning the fundamentals and executing them correctly. She demands proper footwork from her fencers, and her warm-up drills prove it! Technical and tactical skills are built into every lesson.

Sophie fenced competitively at the national and international levels. She won a bronze medal in fencing at the 1998 Nike World Master Games and was a member of the USA team competing at the 1999 and 2000 Veteran's World Fencing Championships in Siofok and Godollo, Hungary.

Since 1975, Sophie has been a full-time instructor at Las Positas College in Livermore. She teaches the college fencing classes, in addition to yoga, tai chi and fitness walking. She created the highly successful Fencing for Kids program through the college's Community Education department.

Sophie has a Bachelor's degree in Zoology and a Master's in Physical Education from the University of California at Berkeley.

Coach Stephen: LPFC Director, Coach, and Armorer

Stephen Murray, Ph.D. (at left in the picture above) began fencing in 1984, due both to a long-time love of swords and a need to escape from computer work for some time each week. He began to compete seriously near the end of the millenium, eventually earning a C rating in both foil and epee. He has fenced with/studied at U. C. Santa Cruz, the University of Virginia club, the Cambridgeshire Fencing Club, Las Positas College, and the Pacific Fencing Club.

Stephen began coaching at LPFC in 2001, and has taught the Introduction to Fencing class at LPC. He has attended the United States Fencing Association's Coaches College and is a certified Level 1 coach in Foil, Epee, and Saber, and is a certified Level 3 Armorer.

Coach Jim: Coach and Armorer

Jim Ringener (right in the picture above) has fenced for many years. He has fenced all three weapons, but has a special love of saber. He has coached at LPFC since 2005, and has taught the Beginning Epee class at LPC. Jim has also attended the United States Fencing Association's Coaches College, and is a certified Level 1 Saber coach.