Fencing
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Dmitri Lapkes, of Belarus, coaches the Buckeye sabre squad, joining the staff during the 2018-19 campaign. He served as the head coach of the national sabre team from 2015-18.
During his first two seasons, the Buckeyes claimed the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships overall title in 2019 and the men’s and women’s titles in 2020, sweeping the men’s sabre crowns both years and winning the women’s in 2020. Ohio State captured the men's and women's Central Collegiate Fencing Conference team crowns in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the men were the champions in 2024. The Scarlet and Gray posted Top 6 finishes in each trip with Lapkes on staff (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024). Under Lapkes, Domenick Koch (2019), Jack Price (2023) and Luca Fioretto (2024) finished tied for third in men's sabre at the NCAA Championships.
A six-time Belarusian national champion, Lapkes competed at four Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), including a fourth-place finish in Athens in 2004.
In World Cup competition, Lapkes claimed seven medals, including three gold. He also earned nine medals in Grand Prix events, including a gold in 2006. He earned silver in the team sabre event at the 2011 World Fencing Championships. He was part of three team World Cup Championships (2006, 2009, 2010).
Lapkes earned his master’s degree from the Belarussian State University of Physical Culture in Minsk, Belarus.
