St. John's University Athletics
Darii Lukashenko Captures Men’s Saber Individual National Title
3/21/2025 6:45:00 PM | Fencing
The freshman claims St. John’s second individual national championship in the last three years
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – St. John's fencing's Darii Lukashenko captured the men's saber individual national title to wrap up the men's portion of the NCAA Championship on Friday.
The freshman claims the Red Storm's second individual national championship in the last three years, joining Jan Jurkiewicz, who captured the men's foil title in 2023.
Lukashenko racked up 16 victories in pool play to earn the fourth seed in the elimination rounds, where he opened by taking down top-seeded Ahmed Hesham of Notre Dame, 15-11. In the championship, Lukashenko dominated, winning the bout against Notre Dame's Radu Nitu 15-7 to capture the National Title.
Fellow freshman Vlad Covaliu joined Lukashenko on the podium in the men's saber, finishing tied for third in the category. Covaliu totaled 16 wins in pool play to earn the second seed in the elimination round before he fell to Nitu in the semifinal.
In the men's epee, Samuel Imrek reached the podium as he tied for third in the category. Imrek finished with 14 triumphs in pool play to garner the third seed in the elimination rounds where he dropped to Harvard's Henry Lawson, 15-12. Daniil Mazur tallied 10 wins in the competition to place 15th in the epee.
Jan Nowak and Igor Wozniak rounded out St. John's competitors on the men's side, with both making their debuts on the national stage in the men's foil. Nowak tallied 11 wins in pool play to finish 17th while Wozniak notched nine victories to place 19th.
St. John's will now have Julia Cieslar, Catinca Dumitru and Antonina Lachman compete on behalf of the women's team over the next two days, wrapping up its time at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS AND RECORDS
MEN'S SABER
Darii Lukashenko – 1st Place, National Champion (18-6)
Vlad Covaliu - Tied-3rd Place (16-7)
MEN'S FOIL
Jan Nowak – 17th Place (11-12)
Igor Wozniak – 19th Place (9-14)
MEN'S EPEE
Samuel Imrek – Tied-3rd Place, (14-9)
Daniil Mazur – 15th Place (10-12)
The freshman claims the Red Storm's second individual national championship in the last three years, joining Jan Jurkiewicz, who captured the men's foil title in 2023.
Lukashenko racked up 16 victories in pool play to earn the fourth seed in the elimination rounds, where he opened by taking down top-seeded Ahmed Hesham of Notre Dame, 15-11. In the championship, Lukashenko dominated, winning the bout against Notre Dame's Radu Nitu 15-7 to capture the National Title.
Fellow freshman Vlad Covaliu joined Lukashenko on the podium in the men's saber, finishing tied for third in the category. Covaliu totaled 16 wins in pool play to earn the second seed in the elimination round before he fell to Nitu in the semifinal.
In the men's epee, Samuel Imrek reached the podium as he tied for third in the category. Imrek finished with 14 triumphs in pool play to garner the third seed in the elimination rounds where he dropped to Harvard's Henry Lawson, 15-12. Daniil Mazur tallied 10 wins in the competition to place 15th in the epee.
Jan Nowak and Igor Wozniak rounded out St. John's competitors on the men's side, with both making their debuts on the national stage in the men's foil. Nowak tallied 11 wins in pool play to finish 17th while Wozniak notched nine victories to place 19th.
St. John's will now have Julia Cieslar, Catinca Dumitru and Antonina Lachman compete on behalf of the women's team over the next two days, wrapping up its time at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS AND RECORDS
MEN'S SABER
Darii Lukashenko – 1st Place, National Champion (18-6)
Vlad Covaliu - Tied-3rd Place (16-7)
MEN'S FOIL
Jan Nowak – 17th Place (11-12)
Igor Wozniak – 19th Place (9-14)
MEN'S EPEE
Samuel Imrek – Tied-3rd Place, (14-9)
Daniil Mazur – 15th Place (10-12)
Players Mentioned
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Saber
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Saber
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Epee
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Foil
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Foil
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Saber
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Epee
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Foil
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Foil
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