Heartland Fencing Academy’s

Head Coach

Emilia Ivanova is an internationally trained fencing master with a proven ability to develop and produce world class athletes. Coach Emi majored in Sport and Physical Education, trained at the Paris Fencing Academy, was a 7-time National Foil Champion of Bulgaria, and took the silver medal in the European Championships. She was head coach of the Bulgarian National Women’s Foil Team, where her students reached the World Championships in Holland, the European Championships in Austria, and even the 1996 Olympic Games!

For the last 11 years, Coach Emi has worked in Kansas City, and many of her students have medaled in regional tournaments, North American Cups and US Summer National Championships. Her students consistently place in the top tier of the young fencers in the United States, and some have been selected to represent the United States at several World Cup competitions internationally. Many of Coach Emi’s students have earned fencing scholarships and continue their academic and athletic education at prestigious universities throughout the country.

Assistant Coach

Zdravka Panagieva brings a wealth of international experience in the sport of fencing, and has a proven ability to work with fencers of all ages and skill levels. Zdravka has a Bachelors degree from the Bulgarian National Sport Academy and is certified as a Master of Sport in fencing.  During her competitive career, Zdravka won several Bulgarian National Championships in Epee, and represented Bulgaria in the European Fencing Championship, World Fencing Championships and the World University Games. Zdravka's European fencing students have followed in her footsteps by winning the Bulgarian National Championships as well as medaling in Croatia, Romania, and Turkey.

Heartland Fencing Academy is privileged to have recently added Coach Zdravka to our coaching staff.   Coach Zdravka will teach both Epee and Foil, and in the short time she's been with us, her students have medaled in regional tournaments and are looking forward to competing in North American Cups and the USFA Summer National Championships.  We anticipate some great accomplishments from our fencing team!