Serge Lilov, is head coach and co-founder of Lilov Fencing Academy, one of the oldest fencing clubs in New Jersey and top private fencing programs in the United States. In his long fencing career Maestro Lilov has won the Ukrainian National Sabre Championship, been a multi time medalist with, and member of, the USSR cadet and junior National Teams. After his move to the US he was a 3 time NCAA All-American and US Junior National Champion. As an NCAA fencer Serge contributed to the Penn State’s fencing program that won 6 consecutive NCAA Championships from 1995 to 2000. Serge prepared numerous students who won gold, silver, and bronze medals at regional, national, and international tournaments.

Serge was coached by Efim Chvidko (Fecht-Club Tauberbischofsheim, Germany)

Serge holds a B.S. degree from Penn State University, an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a designation of Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).

Serge’s Personal Results

Ukraine National Champion, 1991 (vs. Vadim Gutzeit)

USSR National Champion runner-up, Silver 1990/Bronze 1989 (vs. Stanislav Pozdnyakov)

USA Junior National Champion, 1992

USA Senior Team National Champion, 1995 and 1996

Three-time NCAA All American First Team, 1995-96-97, Penn State University

NCAA Individual Champion runner-up, 1996 and 1997

Member of Ukraine and USSR Cadet and Junior National Teams

Maestro Lilov has been a fencing coach for 35 years. He immigrated to the United States in 1992 from the Soviet Union, where he worked with the USSR (1985-1990) and Ukraine (1990-1992) National fencing teams. He graduated from the University of Physical Education at Lviv, Ukraine where he earned a Master of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Sport of Fencing (highest classification in sports in the former USSR).

Lilov is one of the top fencing officials in the US (International Category B referee). He has directed at the Olympic Games in Moscow (1980) and in Atlanta (1996), at the finals of World Championships, and at numerous World Cup tournaments.

Maestro Lilov is recognized for his ability to instill excellent technique and a modern understanding of fencing in his students. Resultantly, his students have rapidly developed into top national and international contenders:

Vladimir’s Notable Students

Nicole Mustilli – World Championships, Hungary: Gold Medal

Catherine Pack – Junior World Championships, South Bend: Silver Medal

Dmitri Kopylov – 7-time USA FENCING TEAM member

Brian Walther – Junior Olympic Championships: Gold Medal

Catherine Pack – Junior Olympic Championships: 2 Gold Medals (Cadet & Junior)

Marissa Mustilli – Junior Olympic Championships: Gold Medal

Paul Apostol – US National Championships: Gold Medal

LFA Women’s Sabre Team – US National Championships: 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal

International Master of Sports Alex Buikevich was a member of the national team of Belarus from 2004 to 2016, a 3-time Olympian in Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro, medalist of many junior and senior World Cups and World Championships. Alexander holds a B.S. degree from the University of Physical Education (2003-04).

Full biography on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliaksandr_Buikevich

Paul has 40 years of coaching experience in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. From 1990-2004, Coach Kutlevas was the Head Coach of the Republic of Uzbekistan Fencing Team where he prepared medalists in the USSR cadet and junior national championships. From 2004-07, Paul was the national epee coach of Taiwan. He was in charge of the men’s and women’s, cadet and junior national epee teams. Paul developed multiple medalists in the Asian Championships and contenders in cadet and junior World Championships.

Dmitry Kopylov graduated from the Polytechnic State University in Kharkov, Ukraine. He competed at numerous Cadet and Junior tournaments and earned the title of Master of Sport of the USSR. Dmitry has competed extensively as a veteran fencer the past 4 years, taking medals in many US National tournaments including winning the March 2012 NAC. Coach Kopylov is the 2011 US Veterans Sabre National Champion and as a member of USA National Veteran Team represented the USA at 7 Veterans World Championships.