Coach Jason Palmer is the Head Foil Coach of the Huntington location of the Long Island Fencers Club.

Coach Jason Palmer started fencing at age 16 and was the youngest entrant in the 1981 Senior Nationals. He was classically trained under Semyon Pinkasov and Stanislav Bardakh. He was Varsity Foil and Team Captain at Walt Whitman High School and went on to fence Varsity Foil at New York University under Coach Steve Kaplan.

Coach Palmer holds a Level 1 Foil Coaches Certificate from US Fencing.

As a lifelong competitor, Coach Palmer specializes in and teaches tactical and competitive Foil fencing techniques in addition to emphasizing the fundamentals of fencing, such as footwork and proper form.

When not fencing or coaching, Jason enjoys Sailing and Tennis. He is a life long resident of Huntington. His day job is as a CPA who is Financial Technology and Compliance Specialist with a focus on Management Consulting, Business Process, and Cybersecurity. 

The Long Island Fencers’ Club is proud to announce that Zachary Zukofsky (Sayville ’21) has been promoted to Fencing Coach, serving both our Huntington and Patchogue club locations.

Coach Zachary Zukofsky’s fencing journey began in the 6th grade. By 8th grade, he had joined the Sayville Varsity Fencing Team, quickly establishing himself as a standout athlete. Zachary earned First Team All-Suffolk County honors in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was named Sayville Men’s Fencing Team MVP for the 2018/19 high school season. Fencing runs in his family—his grandfather was a fencer, and his heritage traces back to Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, and Israel.

During his time at Sayville High School, Zachary excelled academically, completing challenging courses such as AP Comparative Government, AP World History, AP Literature, AP Language, VEI, and two robotics courses through SUNY Farmingdale. He also balanced his studies with a part-time job at a local 7-11 convenience store.

Zachary attended Drew University, where he studied Economics with minors in Business and Photography. He was a member of the Drew University NCAA Fencing Team and holds a “C” rating as an Epee fencer. Beyond athletics and academics, Zachary served as an RHA Tolley Representative, advocating for approximately 50 dormitory residents.

Coach Zukofsky is a three-weapon accredited fencing referee, certified in Epee, Foil, and Sabre. He has officiated numerous tournaments for New Jersey high schools, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role as coach.

Zachary’s commitment to service is evident through his extensive volunteer work. He has served as an Executive Board member of the Apolonio Albuquerque Project, an organization dedicated to providing food to the homeless. His volunteerism also includes contributions to Art Without Walls, Reality Check, Maureen’s Haven Backpack Pirates, Chabad (CTeen), and Stage the Change/Youth Bureau.

The Long Island Fencers’ Club warmly welcomes Coach Zachary Zukofsky to his new role. We are excited for the expertise, dedication, and passion he brings to our community and look forward to his continued contributions at the Huntington and Patchogue club locations.

Coach Aidan Montalbine, a recent graduate from Drew University with a major in Biochemistry, is highly motivated, adaptable, and ready to contribute to a dynamic team environment.

Education

• High School Diploma, Sayville High School, Sayville, NY (June 2020)

• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Drew University (May 2025)

Certifications

• GWO Basic Safety Training Certified:

• First Aid

• Manual Handling

• Fire Awareness

• Working at Heights

• Sea Survival

As an accomplished foil fencer, Coach Montalbine is currently a C24 rating, which he earned at the Neil Lazar Division 2 ROC. Coach Montalbine was a dedicated member of the Drew University fencing team throughout all four years of college, consistently contributing to team competitions. During his senior year, he competed in the Regional Championships, further showcasing my commitment and skill in the sport.

In August 2021, as a member of Boy Scouts of America, Troop 184, Coach Montalbine earned the rank of Eagle Scout through the successful completion of a community-focused Eagle project. He organized a bicycle collection drive for Pedals for Progress, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing transportation solutions and supporting small business enterprises in developing countries. Coach Montalbine’s project involved collecting 104 bicycles and raising over $1,200 in monetary donations. These contributions were vital in improving mobility and creating economic opportunities for individuals in underserved communities abroad. He led my troop in coordinating the logistics of gathering, preparing, and packaging the bicycles for shipment.