Randy Bresil enters his 19th season as the head coach of the Hunter College men’s fencing program. A 2004 Hunter alumnus and former Hawk fencer, Bresil has overseen steady growth in both programs during his tenure, leading athletes to NCAA Regional and national competition while continuing to build experience across all three weapons.
In 2024–25, Bresil guided the men’s team to key wins over Army, Maryland, and Yeshiva, finishing 11th nationally in the USFCA Division III standings. The Hawks also earned individual wins at the Eric Sollee Invitational and closed the year at the MACFA Championships, competing in one of the most competitive circuits in the country.
On the women’s side, Bresil has led 30 different fencers to NCAA Regional appearances since 2015–16. In 2014–15, Allison Berdichevsky made history under his direction by winning gold in foil at both the NIWFA Christmas Invitational and the NIWFA Championship, becoming the first Hunter woman to do so since 1952. She went on to earn the Julia Jones Trophy and was later named EWFC Woman of the Year in 2015–16.
The men’s program has also seen consistent postseason representation. Since taking over in 2012–13, Bresil has coached 25 male fencers to NCAA Regional qualification, including seven in 2017–18 alone—the most in his tenure. That same year, the team recorded seven victories, its highest total since 2008–09.
Highlights from past seasons include a third-place NCAA Regional finish for Anton Chmut in 2019–20 and his selection to the NCAA Championships (later canceled due to the pandemic). Chmut also became the first Hunter athlete to win the Temple Open. Other top results include Zaheer Booth’s MACFA individual sabre championship and seventh-place NCAA Regional finish in 2018–19.
Through each season, Bresil has emphasized building team depth, increasing competitiveness, and fostering academic achievement among his student-athletes.
