# Lugano Scherma

Lugano Scherma is a Swiss fencing club based in Lugano. The club was founded on July 17, 2008, by four fencers: Francesco Wicki, Christian Barozzi, Paolo Bassanini and Sebastiano Brenni. The purpose of the association is to promote fencing at all, regardless of age and ability of each. The club's emphasis is on men's and women's épée fencing. There is also a program for junior and kids fencers.
Lugano Scherma is an active member of Swiss Fencing, the Swiss Fencing federation, and an active member of Scherma Ticino, the Ticino Fencing Federation. The club is also part of the National Sports Promotion Program (Youth and Sport) and adheres to the Swiss Sport Ethics Charter and the Swiss Olympic Ethical Statute.
Lugano Scherma is the editor of WHITE magazine: the first issue of the magazine was 1 June 2020.
In 2018, the club's athletes Michele Niggeler and Elia Dagani won gold at the 2018 World Fencing Championships (first time in history of Switzerland) and at the 2018 European Fencing Under 23 Championships, representing the club internationally.
In June 2021, the Lugano Scherma club merged by acquiring the other local club, Circolo Scherma Sal Lugano. The agreement was made between Carlo Bettin and Christian Barozzi, respectively the president and vice president of Lugano Scherma, and Ivo Foletti and Paolo Lupoli, respectively the president and vice president of the other club. In November 2021, 57% of the population of the city of Lugano voted against the referendum and in favor of the development of the PSE, the city's new sports complex. Fencing will have a new space with a training hall equipped with 16 installed pistes. In April 2024, Swiss Fencing recognized the future fencing sports center in Lugano as the national hub for young talents and elite athletes. In September 2024, the first stone of the PSE was laid, and the Lugano Scherma club will receive the new gym in December 2026.

## Team Elite

* Michele Niggeler - World Champion in team in Wuxy in 2018 and bronze medal in team 2019 World Fencing Championships.
* Elia Dagani - Gold medal in a Team 2018 European Fencing Under 23 Championships
* Isabella Tarchini - Gold medal in Individual 2019 European Championships Master Cat. +40
* Virginia Romeo - 6 gold medals at the Swiss Championships. Proud member of the Swiss National Team.
* Iulia Izzo - 3 gold medals at the Swiss Championships. Proud member of the Swiss National Team.
* Francesca Cugini - 4 gold medals at the Swiss Championships and 3 bronze medals in European Cup U17. Proud member of the Swiss National Team.

## Honours

Swiss Championship 2019 Zug

## Actual Executive committee

* Carlo Bettin - President
* Christian Barozzi - Vice-President & Sport Manager
* Massimo Martignoni - Finance
* Irina Plytkevich - Marketing & Sponsor
* Isabella Tarchini - Member
* Michela Merlo - Events and Paralympic fencing

## Former Executive committee members

* Francesco Wicki - 2008-2017 - President 2008-2017
* Sebastiano Brenni - 2008-2016
* Paolo Bassanini - 2008-2014
* Carlo Bettin - 2008-2024 - President 2017-2021
* Massimo Martignoni - 2008-2023
* Fred Latino - 2008-2010
* Isabella Tarchini - 2010-2024
* Gianluca Ielmini - 2016-2018
* Marina Crovetto - 2016-2017
* Irina Plytkevich - 2018-2021
* Michela Merlo - 2018-2021
* Benedetta Masciari - 2021-2022
* Paolo Lupoli - 2021-2024 - President 2021-2024
* Tessa Foletti - 2021-2024

## Notable Coaches

* Franco Cerutti (2008 – 2013)
* Alfredo Rota (2012 – 2016)
* Andrea Candiani (2013 – 2016)
* Diego Confalonieri (2016 – 2022)
* Federico Bortolini (2019 – present)
* Paolo Milanoli (2022 - 2023)

## Founders

* Francesco Wicki
* Christian Barozzi, vice-president of Swiss Fencing (2021-2024) and General Manager of Swiss Fencing (2023-2024)
* Sebastiano Brenni
* Paolo Bassanini

## Honor Committee

* Renzo Boisco - 2009
* Alberto e Bona Bassanini - 2010
* Jean Aldo Cerutti - 2011
* Paolo Bassanini, Founder - 2013
* Francesco Wicki, Founder - 2018
* Sebastiano Brenni, Founder - 2019
* Ivo Foletti -2021
* Massimo Martignoni - 2023

## Palmares: 2008-2024

| Competitions | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Total Medals |
| World Championships | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| European Championships | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| World Cup | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| European Cup | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Swiss Championships | 22 | 9 | 15 | 36 |
| Swiss National Competitions | 96 | 71 | 104 | 271 |
| Italian Championships | 5 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
* Participation in the Olympic Games: 2 (Tokyo 2020)
* Participation in World Championships: 46
* Participation in European Championships: 54
* Participation in the Universiade: 2

## Special Projects

* 2016 - Therapeutics Fencing: project Nastro Rosa. Fencing for women with breast cancer
* 2017 - Special Award: the Club won the Sanitas Special Award for the best project in Switzerland promoting sports and physical activity for children. In the same year, it participated in the Donna & Sport event alongside Olympic champion Valentina Vezzali.
* 2019 - Paralympic Fencing: school for paraplegic athletes, in partnership with Insuperabili Association and Swiss Paraplegic Association

## Lugano Challenge

The international competition of the sword organized by the club since 2008. Currently been played 7 prestigious editions of the tournament. In 2014, the competition has recorded the presence of 991 athletes from 13 nations.
Palmares Men Épée:
* 2008: Max Heinzer - SUI
* 2009: Edoardo Munzone - ITA
* 2010: Luca Ferraris - ITA
* 2011: Federico Bollati - ITA
* 2012: Riccardo Schiavina - ITA
* 2013: Philippe Oberson - SUI
* 2014: Michael Kauter - SUI
Palmares Women Épée:
* 2008: Anina Hochstrasser - SUI
* 2009: Simone Naef - SUI
* 2010: Melinda Mancinelli - ITA
* 2011: Isabella Tarchini - SUI
* 2012: Pauline Brunner - SUI
* 2013: Nicole Foietta - ITA
* 2014: Laura Stähli - SUI

## Partnership

The club since 2019 has a close partnership with the St. Moritz & Engiadina Fencing Club and Bellinzona Scherma.