https://simplecast.com First to 15: The USA Fencing Podcast Welcome to the official podcast of USA Fencing! In each episode, we’ll talk to someone interesting within the fencing world, including young fencers just learning the sport, coaches, experts from outside of fencing, fencing parents, referees, Olympians and Paralympians, and many more. Ready? Set? Fence! 2023 USA Fencing en Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:16 +0000 https://first-to-15.simplecast.com First to 15: The USA Fencing Podcast https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a8d2b4f5-c5f7-4551-96c3-da97624a1a99/bcdfdbe6-4f3f-4185-9365-9e834b39bfc5/3000x3000/first-to-15-logo.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://first-to-15.simplecast.com episodic Welcome to the official podcast of USA Fencing! In each episode, we’ll talk to someone interesting within the fencing world, including young fencers just learning the sport, coaches, experts from outside of fencing, fencing parents, referees, Olympians and Paralympians, and many more. Ready? Set? Fence! USA Fencing false https://feeds.simplecast.com/1l08EB4b fencing, olympics, sports, usa fencing USA Fencing b.wendell@usafencing.org c0a1aab0-fc92-4d48-9f4f-53e54adadd0a Deep Patel on Going from Beginner to Captain to Coach Guest: Deep Patel
Deep walked onto the men’s fencing team at Haverford College after discovering fencing through a PE class, and quickly became one of the team’s leaders. He now coaches sabre at Badger Fencing Club and is part of a new generation of coaches helping make fencing more accessible.

What you’ll hear in this episode

  • How Deep discovered fencing in college (and why a PE class + a “why not?” mindset changed everything)
  • What transfers from soccer/lacrosse/cricket — and what fencing forces you to “rewire” (upper/lower body separation, individual accountability, body language)
  • The steep learning curve: terminology, right-of-way, and why Deep urges new competitors to actually read the rule book
  • A turning point moment: the first big win that made the progress feel real
  • Competing as a D3 athlete against lifelong fencers — and why it can feel empowering, not just intimidating
  • Leadership and culture: how Deep became captain by contributing beyond his own bouts (rides, armory basics, energy, motivation)
  • Coaching development: what it was like entering Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Fencing Corps and becoming a “small fish” again
  • The “UN ambassador lesson” story: how to make a first fencing experience fun, memorable, and meaningful
  • Building something new at Badger: what it’s like joining a developing club — and why Badger matters nationally as a Club Incubator success story 
  • Post-college fencing: why it doesn’t have to be “stop now, maybe come back at Vet 40”
  • Growing the sport: Deep’s idea of making fencing feel more like drop-in recreation leagues while still preserving the competitive ladder

Haverford roster (Deep Patel): https://haverfordathletics.com/sports/mens-fencing/roster/deep-patel/9407

USA Fencing: Badger Fencing Club launch (Club Incubator): https://www.usafencing.org/news/2024/september/16/club-incubator-program-celebrates-successful-launch-of-wisconsin-s-badger-fencing-club

USA Fencing: Badger success story (0 to 100 members): https://www.usafencing.org/news/2025/november/20/club-incubator-success-story-badger-fencing-club-rockets-from-zero-to-100-members

USA Fencing Club Incubator Program info: https://www.usafencing.org/club-incubator

Club Incubator overview article: https://www.usafencing.org/news/2024/june/06/club-incubator-program-a-new-grant-opportunity-to-turn-fencing-passion-into-a-profession

 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Deep Patel) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/deep-patel-UqDu_RJI Guest: Deep Patel
Deep walked onto the men’s fencing team at Haverford College after discovering fencing through a PE class, and quickly became one of the team’s leaders. He now coaches sabre at Badger Fencing Club and is part of a new generation of coaches helping make fencing more accessible.

What you’ll hear in this episode

  • How Deep discovered fencing in college (and why a PE class + a “why not?” mindset changed everything)
  • What transfers from soccer/lacrosse/cricket — and what fencing forces you to “rewire” (upper/lower body separation, individual accountability, body language)
  • The steep learning curve: terminology, right-of-way, and why Deep urges new competitors to actually read the rule book
  • A turning point moment: the first big win that made the progress feel real
  • Competing as a D3 athlete against lifelong fencers — and why it can feel empowering, not just intimidating
  • Leadership and culture: how Deep became captain by contributing beyond his own bouts (rides, armory basics, energy, motivation)
  • Coaching development: what it was like entering Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Fencing Corps and becoming a “small fish” again
  • The “UN ambassador lesson” story: how to make a first fencing experience fun, memorable, and meaningful
  • Building something new at Badger: what it’s like joining a developing club — and why Badger matters nationally as a Club Incubator success story 
  • Post-college fencing: why it doesn’t have to be “stop now, maybe come back at Vet 40”
  • Growing the sport: Deep’s idea of making fencing feel more like drop-in recreation leagues while still preserving the competitive ladder

Haverford roster (Deep Patel): https://haverfordathletics.com/sports/mens-fencing/roster/deep-patel/9407

USA Fencing: Badger Fencing Club launch (Club Incubator): https://www.usafencing.org/news/2024/september/16/club-incubator-program-celebrates-successful-launch-of-wisconsin-s-badger-fencing-club

USA Fencing: Badger success story (0 to 100 members): https://www.usafencing.org/news/2025/november/20/club-incubator-success-story-badger-fencing-club-rockets-from-zero-to-100-members

USA Fencing Club Incubator Program info: https://www.usafencing.org/club-incubator

Club Incubator overview article: https://www.usafencing.org/news/2024/june/06/club-incubator-program-a-new-grant-opportunity-to-turn-fencing-passion-into-a-profession

 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Deep Patel on Going from Beginner to Captain to Coach Bryan Wendell, Deep Patel 00:34:11 What if you picked up a fencing weapon for the first time in college… and just a few years later you were team captain — and then coaching? That’s the reality for Deep Patel, whose rapid rise through fencing is a powerful reminder that “starting late” doesn’t mean you can’t become great. Hosted by Bryan Wendell, this episode follows Deep’s path from team-sport athlete (soccer and lacrosse) to collegiate sabre walk-on, to leadership, to coaching — including a stop at the Tim Morehouse Fencing Corps coaching program and his current role coaching sabre at Badger Fencing Club in Madison. Along the way, Deep breaks down what transferred from other sports (and what didn’t), why learning the rules matters more than most beginners realize, and how new fencers can accelerate growth with the right habits and mindset. If you’re a college fencer, a late starter, a parent, or a coach looking to help walk-ons thrive — this one is packed with practical takeaways and energy. What if you picked up a fencing weapon for the first time in college… and just a few years later you were team captain — and then coaching? That’s the reality for Deep Patel, whose rapid rise through fencing is a powerful reminder that “starting late” doesn’t mean you can’t become great. Hosted by Bryan Wendell, this episode follows Deep’s path from team-sport athlete (soccer and lacrosse) to collegiate sabre walk-on, to leadership, to coaching — including a stop at the Tim Morehouse Fencing Corps coaching program and his current role coaching sabre at Badger Fencing Club in Madison. Along the way, Deep breaks down what transferred from other sports (and what didn’t), why learning the rules matters more than most beginners realize, and how new fencers can accelerate growth with the right habits and mindset. If you’re a college fencer, a late starter, a parent, or a coach looking to help walk-ons thrive — this one is packed with practical takeaways and energy. fencing, college sports, haverford false full 93 d8e4d0b5-ce98-44ce-8bb5-ccbae17faebc David Sierra on the Surprising Links Between Coaching NCAA Fencers and Vet Fencers Guest: David Sierra
David Sierra is the head men’s and women’s fencing coach at Wagner College (NY), where he expanded the program from seven athletes to a co-ed squad of 31 and produced NCAA qualifiers early in the men’s program. He also coaches veteran fencers (40+), served as coach and team captain at the 2025 Veteran Worlds in Bahrain, is a longtime national referee, a certified fencing master, and the Education Manager for the US Fencing Coaches Association.

What we cover:

David’s entry into fencing via a Texas A&M PE class (and why he’s glad he didn’t choose “aerobic walking”)

How an injury ended his competitive career — and pushed him into coaching and refereeing

Building Wagner fencing: recruiting, culture, and growing a young NCAA program fast

“Better humans” as a coaching motto — and what that looks like day to day

Why veteran fencers matter to clubs: culture, feedback, community, staffing, and smart scheduling

Coaching vets vs coaching NCAA athletes: what’s different, and what’s surprisingly the same

Bahrain 2025: David’s first international coaching experience and the realities of coaching on the world stage

Why Veteran Worlds is a tougher jump for Americans (and how vets prepare without an international circuit)

Team format changes, fast team selection, and the challenge of coaching a relay team you just met

What USA Fencing can do better for vets — and why travel funding would be a game-changer

“Vet fencing is the soul of fencing”: tactical depth, tempo, and what younger fencers can learn

What keeps David motivated after losing a club and rebuilding in a new region

Rapid fire includes:

Favorite weapon (no surprises)

David’s “other lifetime” in science and the Human Genome Project

The coach who shaped his philosophy — and the best advice he ever received

How he reads the room before coaching

Motorcycles, sci-fi, cooking, and The Repair Shop

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (David Sierra, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/david-sierra-EUuYRWPD Guest: David Sierra
David Sierra is the head men’s and women’s fencing coach at Wagner College (NY), where he expanded the program from seven athletes to a co-ed squad of 31 and produced NCAA qualifiers early in the men’s program. He also coaches veteran fencers (40+), served as coach and team captain at the 2025 Veteran Worlds in Bahrain, is a longtime national referee, a certified fencing master, and the Education Manager for the US Fencing Coaches Association.

What we cover:

David’s entry into fencing via a Texas A&M PE class (and why he’s glad he didn’t choose “aerobic walking”)

How an injury ended his competitive career — and pushed him into coaching and refereeing

Building Wagner fencing: recruiting, culture, and growing a young NCAA program fast

“Better humans” as a coaching motto — and what that looks like day to day

Why veteran fencers matter to clubs: culture, feedback, community, staffing, and smart scheduling

Coaching vets vs coaching NCAA athletes: what’s different, and what’s surprisingly the same

Bahrain 2025: David’s first international coaching experience and the realities of coaching on the world stage

Why Veteran Worlds is a tougher jump for Americans (and how vets prepare without an international circuit)

Team format changes, fast team selection, and the challenge of coaching a relay team you just met

What USA Fencing can do better for vets — and why travel funding would be a game-changer

“Vet fencing is the soul of fencing”: tactical depth, tempo, and what younger fencers can learn

What keeps David motivated after losing a club and rebuilding in a new region

Rapid fire includes:

Favorite weapon (no surprises)

David’s “other lifetime” in science and the Human Genome Project

The coach who shaped his philosophy — and the best advice he ever received

How he reads the room before coaching

Motorcycles, sci-fi, cooking, and The Repair Shop

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> David Sierra on the Surprising Links Between Coaching NCAA Fencers and Vet Fencers David Sierra, Bryan Wendell 00:43:07 Imagine coaching a 19-year-old NCAA fencer on Friday — then coaching a 50-year-old vet fencer on Saturday. That’s the world David Sierra lives in, and he’s discovered that coaching across generations doesn’t split his focus… it sharpens it. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell sits down with David — head men’s and women’s coach at Wagner College, veteran coach, longtime referee, club owner, and Education Manager for the US Fencing Coaches Association — to talk about the surprising overlap between NCAA and vet fencing. They discuss building a college program from the ground up, why adult fencers strengthen a club’s culture (and bottom line), what it’s like coaching at Veteran Worlds, and how passion, tempo, and tactical depth travel both directions between young fencers and veterans. Imagine coaching a 19-year-old NCAA fencer on Friday — then coaching a 50-year-old vet fencer on Saturday. That’s the world David Sierra lives in, and he’s discovered that coaching across generations doesn’t split his focus… it sharpens it. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell sits down with David — head men’s and women’s coach at Wagner College, veteran coach, longtime referee, club owner, and Education Manager for the US Fencing Coaches Association — to talk about the surprising overlap between NCAA and vet fencing. They discuss building a college program from the ground up, why adult fencers strengthen a club’s culture (and bottom line), what it’s like coaching at Veteran Worlds, and how passion, tempo, and tactical depth travel both directions between young fencers and veterans. fencing, ncaa, wagner college false full 92 2abb0fbb-648a-47de-a492-96c8192f5775 Corwin Duncan on Why You Fence Great in Practice but Struggle in Competition Guest: Corwin Duncan is a mental performance coach, former national champion and world team member, and a longtime fencing coach and referee. He works with fencers of all levels to build concrete, in-the-moment skills for managing pressure, emotions, and focus — on and off the strip.

What we cover:

Why tournaments feel different than practice: familiarity, “safety,” routine disruption, and expectations

How spirals start (and how to interrupt them before they snowball)

The “5-second reset” breathing technique you can use between actions

Using time wisely on strip (shoe tie, blade straighten, creating a moment to think)

A parent’s role: supporting without adding pressure, and managing your own stress

“Losing to weaker fencers”: how expectations can lower intensity — and what to do instead

Reframing a bad result so it doesn’t define you

When it’s time to consider a mental performance coach (including “I’m not enjoying fencing anymore”)

Building a mental warm-up and why routines should be consistent, not rigid

Why Corwin cares about skills that transfer beyond fencing (the “doctor’s shot” story)

Links mentioned:

SharperMind Training: https://sharpermindtraining.com/

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 2 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Corwin Duncan) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/corwin-duncan-8bjNvOeC Guest: Corwin Duncan is a mental performance coach, former national champion and world team member, and a longtime fencing coach and referee. He works with fencers of all levels to build concrete, in-the-moment skills for managing pressure, emotions, and focus — on and off the strip.

What we cover:

Why tournaments feel different than practice: familiarity, “safety,” routine disruption, and expectations

How spirals start (and how to interrupt them before they snowball)

The “5-second reset” breathing technique you can use between actions

Using time wisely on strip (shoe tie, blade straighten, creating a moment to think)

A parent’s role: supporting without adding pressure, and managing your own stress

“Losing to weaker fencers”: how expectations can lower intensity — and what to do instead

Reframing a bad result so it doesn’t define you

When it’s time to consider a mental performance coach (including “I’m not enjoying fencing anymore”)

Building a mental warm-up and why routines should be consistent, not rigid

Why Corwin cares about skills that transfer beyond fencing (the “doctor’s shot” story)

Links mentioned:

SharperMind Training: https://sharpermindtraining.com/

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Corwin Duncan on Why You Fence Great in Practice but Struggle in Competition Bryan Wendell, Corwin Duncan 00:37:26 In this episode of First to 15, Corwin Duncan breaks down why fencers often look sharp at practice but struggle when the pressure is on at competitions — and what to do about it. Bryan and Corwin dig into expectations, stress, and the in-the-moment tools that help you reset, refocus, and fence the bout in front of you. If you’re a youth fencer (or a parent trying to support one), this is a practical, skill-focused conversation you can use right away. In this episode of First to 15, Corwin Duncan breaks down why fencers often look sharp at practice but struggle when the pressure is on at competitions — and what to do about it. Bryan and Corwin dig into expectations, stress, and the in-the-moment tools that help you reset, refocus, and fence the bout in front of you. If you’re a youth fencer (or a parent trying to support one), this is a practical, skill-focused conversation you can use right away. fencing, mental health, mental performance false full 91 cea04785-cf6d-4b2e-87ab-a16a3c32ce6d Peter Grandbois on Starting a Collegiate Fencing Program from Scratch Guest

Peter Grandbois — Head coach of Denison women’s varsity fencing; coach of Denison men’s club team (transitioning to varsity in 2026). English professor and creative writing instructor. Veteran competitor and longtime coach.

What you’ll hear in this episode

How Denison fencing dates back to at least 1941 — and why college clubs often rise and fall with student energy

The real grind of launching a program: recruiting on campus, building participation, and finding the “tipping point”

Why Denison elevated the women’s team to varsity in 2019, and what helped make the case

The role of culture: “work hard” and “have fun,” creating a team people want to join

Budget and equipment realities — and how to educate decision-makers on what fencing actually needs

Coaching challenges: building three-weapon coaching capacity, learning sabre, and finding additional coaching support

The administrator pitch: enrollment, diversity, academic profile, and cost-benefit

Grandbois’s origin story: starting fencing in college because of a flyer — and why that matters

How competing as a veteran helps him coach better

Fencing and creative writing: risk-taking, discomfort, failure, and persistence

Recruiting lightning round:

Best email subject lines for recruits

Results vs. being a great teammate

What coaches watch when scouting

The ideal parent role

What surprises most fencers about college fencing (strength & conditioning)

Quote-worthy moments

“Patience and persistence are the two biggest hallmarks of trying to start a fencing program.”

“We can always grow a fencer, but it’s harder to make them great teammates.”

“Creativity happens in the unknown — in fencing and in writing.”

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Peter Grandbois, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/peter-grandbois-2fEQ0OaP Guest

Peter Grandbois — Head coach of Denison women’s varsity fencing; coach of Denison men’s club team (transitioning to varsity in 2026). English professor and creative writing instructor. Veteran competitor and longtime coach.

What you’ll hear in this episode

How Denison fencing dates back to at least 1941 — and why college clubs often rise and fall with student energy

The real grind of launching a program: recruiting on campus, building participation, and finding the “tipping point”

Why Denison elevated the women’s team to varsity in 2019, and what helped make the case

The role of culture: “work hard” and “have fun,” creating a team people want to join

Budget and equipment realities — and how to educate decision-makers on what fencing actually needs

Coaching challenges: building three-weapon coaching capacity, learning sabre, and finding additional coaching support

The administrator pitch: enrollment, diversity, academic profile, and cost-benefit

Grandbois’s origin story: starting fencing in college because of a flyer — and why that matters

How competing as a veteran helps him coach better

Fencing and creative writing: risk-taking, discomfort, failure, and persistence

Recruiting lightning round:

Best email subject lines for recruits

Results vs. being a great teammate

What coaches watch when scouting

The ideal parent role

What surprises most fencers about college fencing (strength & conditioning)

Quote-worthy moments

“Patience and persistence are the two biggest hallmarks of trying to start a fencing program.”

“We can always grow a fencer, but it’s harder to make them great teammates.”

“Creativity happens in the unknown — in fencing and in writing.”

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Peter Grandbois on Starting a Collegiate Fencing Program from Scratch Peter Grandbois, Bryan Wendell 00:38:45 College fencing programs aren’t built overnight — and varsity status can take years of persistence, patience, and a campus community that believes fencing belongs. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell sits down with Peter Grandbois, the force behind Denison University’s fencing growth from a small club reboot to a thriving program: a women’s varsity team since 2019 and a men’s team moving from club to varsity in 2026. Grandbois shares what it actually takes to start and sustain a collegiate fencing program from scratch — from recruiting students who’ve never fenced before to building culture, securing budget, and proving long-term stability to administrators. They also dig into Grandbois’s own fencing path — sparked by a single college flyer — his veteran-level return to competition (including Team USA’s trip to Dubai), and the overlap he sees between fencing and creative writing: risk, creativity, rejection, and resilience. Plus, a rapid-fire recruiting segment on subject lines, what coaches watch (hint: not just the score), and what surprises most fencers when they arrive on campus. College fencing programs aren’t built overnight — and varsity status can take years of persistence, patience, and a campus community that believes fencing belongs. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell sits down with Peter Grandbois, the force behind Denison University’s fencing growth from a small club reboot to a thriving program: a women’s varsity team since 2019 and a men’s team moving from club to varsity in 2026. Grandbois shares what it actually takes to start and sustain a collegiate fencing program from scratch — from recruiting students who’ve never fenced before to building culture, securing budget, and proving long-term stability to administrators. They also dig into Grandbois’s own fencing path — sparked by a single college flyer — his veteran-level return to competition (including Team USA’s trip to Dubai), and the overlap he sees between fencing and creative writing: risk, creativity, rejection, and resilience. Plus, a rapid-fire recruiting segment on subject lines, what coaches watch (hint: not just the score), and what surprises most fencers when they arrive on campus. fencing, denison, college sports false full 90 005e8c44-42e7-437e-99ac-fa5164741b0c DoGood on Turning Tournament Weekends Into Community Impact Guests

Theo Lin — Founder & Head of Community Engagement

Catalina Berrios — Head of Social Media

Ryan Katz — Head of Communications

Ava Kwon — Trainee (future Communications & High School Engagement)

Lucas Suba — Head of Registration & Onsite Project Management

What this episode covers

Why Theo founded DoGood after missing school service days for NAC travel

How DoGood finds and books volunteer projects in each host city

Favorite project types: animal shelters, food pantries, Ronald McDonald House, homeless shelters

Telling the story the right way: gratitude and joy, not “look at us”

Getting the word out: local media, USA Fencing e-blasts, and an on-site NAC table

The logistics: having a leadership point person at every project

The switch to GivePulse and how it makes registration + tracking easier

Service hours: verification, certificates, and tracking (plus who to email)

Succession planning: training the next leaders so DoGood doesn’t disappear after graduation

The big vision: DoGood as the “ketchup to French fries” of volunteering at fencing events — and eventually beyond fencing

Quick links

DoGood website: fencersdogood.org

Instagram: @fencersdogood

Service hours verification: highschool@fencersdogood.org

Call to action

Going to your next NAC? Sign up for a DoGood project and spend a couple hours giving back — you’ll leave the city with more than just bout results.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/dogood-E9t1i9Ml Guests

Theo Lin — Founder & Head of Community Engagement

Catalina Berrios — Head of Social Media

Ryan Katz — Head of Communications

Ava Kwon — Trainee (future Communications & High School Engagement)

Lucas Suba — Head of Registration & Onsite Project Management

What this episode covers

Why Theo founded DoGood after missing school service days for NAC travel

How DoGood finds and books volunteer projects in each host city

Favorite project types: animal shelters, food pantries, Ronald McDonald House, homeless shelters

Telling the story the right way: gratitude and joy, not “look at us”

Getting the word out: local media, USA Fencing e-blasts, and an on-site NAC table

The logistics: having a leadership point person at every project

The switch to GivePulse and how it makes registration + tracking easier

Service hours: verification, certificates, and tracking (plus who to email)

Succession planning: training the next leaders so DoGood doesn’t disappear after graduation

The big vision: DoGood as the “ketchup to French fries” of volunteering at fencing events — and eventually beyond fencing

Quick links

DoGood website: fencersdogood.org

Instagram: @fencersdogood

Service hours verification: highschool@fencersdogood.org

Call to action

Going to your next NAC? Sign up for a DoGood project and spend a couple hours giving back — you’ll leave the city with more than just bout results.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> DoGood on Turning Tournament Weekends Into Community Impact Bryan Wendell 00:33:24 At a North American Cup, it’s easy to think only about strips, seedings and schedules — but what if tournament weekends could also be about service and leaving a city better than we found it? Recorded live at the Junior Olympics in Kansas City, Bryan Wendell sits down with five young leaders from DoGood: Theo Lin (Founder & Head of Community Engagement), Catalina Berrios (Head of Social Media), Ryan Katz (Head of Communications), Ava Kwon (Trainee / future Communications & High School Engagement), and Lucas Suba (Head of Registration & Onsite Project Management). They share how DoGood started, how they build partnerships in each host city, why they switched to GivePulse to streamline volunteer registration, and what it looks like to measure success in impact — not just hours. Plus: how students can earn service-hour verification, what projects they love most (yes, animal shelters), and where they hope DoGood goes next. Find DoGood at fencersdogood.org — and next time you’re at a NAC, consider volunteering. At a North American Cup, it’s easy to think only about strips, seedings and schedules — but what if tournament weekends could also be about service and leaving a city better than we found it? Recorded live at the Junior Olympics in Kansas City, Bryan Wendell sits down with five young leaders from DoGood: Theo Lin (Founder & Head of Community Engagement), Catalina Berrios (Head of Social Media), Ryan Katz (Head of Communications), Ava Kwon (Trainee / future Communications & High School Engagement), and Lucas Suba (Head of Registration & Onsite Project Management). They share how DoGood started, how they build partnerships in each host city, why they switched to GivePulse to streamline volunteer registration, and what it looks like to measure success in impact — not just hours. Plus: how students can earn service-hour verification, what projects they love most (yes, animal shelters), and where they hope DoGood goes next. Find DoGood at fencersdogood.org — and next time you’re at a NAC, consider volunteering. fencing, athletics, sports, volunteering false full 89 b17b1f3b-fd3e-4253-82bd-f18a73eaab39 Rob Charlton on Why NCAA Fencing Is Within Your Reach Title: Rob Charlton on Why NCAA Fencing Is Within Your Reach
Season 2, Episode 20

In this episode, Bryan talks with Rob Charlton — head coach of Wellesley College and a club coach at Five Points Fencing Academy — about why many more fencers are “good enough” to fence in college than they realize, and how to navigate the NCAA landscape without getting overwhelmed.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The most common misconception Rob hears: “Am I good enough?” — and why the answer is often yes
  • Why there’s no universal “cut line” for NCAA fencing (and why it depends on the school, weapon and year)
  • How coaches build rosters across four years — and how study abroad, injuries and attrition affect recruiting needs
  • What Division I vs. Division III can look like in training time, travel and season structure
  • How athletic scholarships actually work (and why Division III schools can’t offer them)
  • The value of looking at the full financial picture: merit aid, need-based aid and total cost
  • The walk-on/tryout path — and why Rob still recommends engaging the recruiting process early
  • Key recruiting rules for Division III: when coaches can meet prospects in person and on campus
  • What makes a strong first email to a college coach (and what reads as generic/copy-paste)
  • How college coaches structure Summer Nationals: meetings, rules around competition days, and what they’re reallywatching for
  • Why the new NCAA Women’s Fencing Championship is meaningful for women’s-only programs

Find First to 15 on our YouTube channel, too!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 5 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Rob Charlton, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/rob-charlton-hVY62Soj Title: Rob Charlton on Why NCAA Fencing Is Within Your Reach
Season 2, Episode 20

In this episode, Bryan talks with Rob Charlton — head coach of Wellesley College and a club coach at Five Points Fencing Academy — about why many more fencers are “good enough” to fence in college than they realize, and how to navigate the NCAA landscape without getting overwhelmed.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The most common misconception Rob hears: “Am I good enough?” — and why the answer is often yes
  • Why there’s no universal “cut line” for NCAA fencing (and why it depends on the school, weapon and year)
  • How coaches build rosters across four years — and how study abroad, injuries and attrition affect recruiting needs
  • What Division I vs. Division III can look like in training time, travel and season structure
  • How athletic scholarships actually work (and why Division III schools can’t offer them)
  • The value of looking at the full financial picture: merit aid, need-based aid and total cost
  • The walk-on/tryout path — and why Rob still recommends engaging the recruiting process early
  • Key recruiting rules for Division III: when coaches can meet prospects in person and on campus
  • What makes a strong first email to a college coach (and what reads as generic/copy-paste)
  • How college coaches structure Summer Nationals: meetings, rules around competition days, and what they’re reallywatching for
  • Why the new NCAA Women’s Fencing Championship is meaningful for women’s-only programs

Find First to 15 on our YouTube channel, too!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Rob Charlton on Why NCAA Fencing Is Within Your Reach Rob Charlton, Bryan Wendell 00:42:42 Many high school fencers assume NCAA fencing is only for A-rated athletes and Junior World Cup contenders — but Rob Charlton says that mindset leaves opportunities on the table. The Wellesley College head coach and Five Points Fencing Academy coach explains how college rosters are built, why needs vary by school, weapon and year, and what fencers and families can do to approach recruiting with better information. From scholarships and Division I vs. Division III to walk-on tryouts and what to include in a first email, this episode is a practical guide for anyone who wants to keep fencing in their life after high school. Many high school fencers assume NCAA fencing is only for A-rated athletes and Junior World Cup contenders — but Rob Charlton says that mindset leaves opportunities on the table. The Wellesley College head coach and Five Points Fencing Academy coach explains how college rosters are built, why needs vary by school, weapon and year, and what fencers and families can do to approach recruiting with better information. From scholarships and Division I vs. Division III to walk-on tryouts and what to include in a first email, this episode is a practical guide for anyone who wants to keep fencing in their life after high school. fencing, college, college fencing, college sports false full 88 67218876-bdd5-4e59-b6c1-a5f0162ab37c Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio on Expanding Fencing’s Global Reach Season 2, Episode 19
Guests: Jen Oldham & Jeff Kallio — Forge Fencing Academy (North Carolina); Jen also coaches at Cleveland State

What we cover

How the Kenya initiative began: an international coaching program connection and a promise to “do something”

Working with Coach Eliakim (“Coach Jack”), a Kenyan Taekwondo coach and sports protection coach

What fencing looks like in Kenya: blank slate in Kakuma; early club development in Nairobi and East Africa

The logistics: gathering donations, packing equipment, and getting it across the world

Trust and teaching: adapting communication, consent/check-ins, and collaborating with local organizers

Kakuma realities: why sport matters when basic needs and stability are under pressure

Staying connected after returning: WhatsApp, videos, online support, and rapid learner progress

Creative problem-solving: homemade training weapons, limited resources, and surprising ingenuity

Perspective shift: how the trip changed how they view complaints, effort, and empathy back home

How listeners can help: gear drives, coaching support, donations, and creating new bridge connections

Links

Forge Fencing blog post:
https://forgefencing.com/global-connections-forge-fencing-initiative-in-kenya-and-kakuma/

Timestamps

0:00 — Why fencing matters when it’s brand new in a community

1:12 — The Kenya initiative: where it came from

3:24 — What fencing looks like in Kenya vs. the U.S.

5:02 — Getting started on the ground: teach, adapt, connect

6:27 — The equipment challenge: donations, packing, logistics

8:26 — Early moments and why fencing “fit” socially

10:05 — Staying connected through tech: videos and feedback loops

11:26 — Homemade training weapons and creative problem-solving

12:53 — Culture shock: water, shoes, safety norms, and perspective

14:04 — “Empathy scale” after returning home

15:43 — Trust-building and the refugee camp tour

17:40 — Kakuma context and why sport is a lifeline

24:14 — How listeners can help right now

27:15 — Doing this as a couple: teamwork and logistics

30:58 — Lessons brought home for athletes and students

32:21 — Leadership, gratitude, and widening perspective through sport

Quotable

“They don’t get down when there’s an obstacle—they get excited and creative.” — Jeff Kallio

“This thread is far greater than one person. It’s a huge connector.” — Jen Oldham

Call to action
Want to help? Read the full story and updates here:
https://forgefencing.com/global-connections-forge-fencing-initiative-in-kenya-and-kakuma/
And if you have a relevant connection (schools, nonprofits, adaptive sport, international programs), reach out—bridges are built one introduction at a time.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Jen Oldham & Jeff Kallio

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jeff Kallio, Bryan Wendell, Jen Oldham) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jen-oldham-and-jeff-kallio-sy_91icI Season 2, Episode 19
Guests: Jen Oldham & Jeff Kallio — Forge Fencing Academy (North Carolina); Jen also coaches at Cleveland State

What we cover

How the Kenya initiative began: an international coaching program connection and a promise to “do something”

Working with Coach Eliakim (“Coach Jack”), a Kenyan Taekwondo coach and sports protection coach

What fencing looks like in Kenya: blank slate in Kakuma; early club development in Nairobi and East Africa

The logistics: gathering donations, packing equipment, and getting it across the world

Trust and teaching: adapting communication, consent/check-ins, and collaborating with local organizers

Kakuma realities: why sport matters when basic needs and stability are under pressure

Staying connected after returning: WhatsApp, videos, online support, and rapid learner progress

Creative problem-solving: homemade training weapons, limited resources, and surprising ingenuity

Perspective shift: how the trip changed how they view complaints, effort, and empathy back home

How listeners can help: gear drives, coaching support, donations, and creating new bridge connections

Links

Forge Fencing blog post:
https://forgefencing.com/global-connections-forge-fencing-initiative-in-kenya-and-kakuma/

Timestamps

0:00 — Why fencing matters when it’s brand new in a community

1:12 — The Kenya initiative: where it came from

3:24 — What fencing looks like in Kenya vs. the U.S.

5:02 — Getting started on the ground: teach, adapt, connect

6:27 — The equipment challenge: donations, packing, logistics

8:26 — Early moments and why fencing “fit” socially

10:05 — Staying connected through tech: videos and feedback loops

11:26 — Homemade training weapons and creative problem-solving

12:53 — Culture shock: water, shoes, safety norms, and perspective

14:04 — “Empathy scale” after returning home

15:43 — Trust-building and the refugee camp tour

17:40 — Kakuma context and why sport is a lifeline

24:14 — How listeners can help right now

27:15 — Doing this as a couple: teamwork and logistics

30:58 — Lessons brought home for athletes and students

32:21 — Leadership, gratitude, and widening perspective through sport

Quotable

“They don’t get down when there’s an obstacle—they get excited and creative.” — Jeff Kallio

“This thread is far greater than one person. It’s a huge connector.” — Jen Oldham

Call to action
Want to help? Read the full story and updates here:
https://forgefencing.com/global-connections-forge-fencing-initiative-in-kenya-and-kakuma/
And if you have a relevant connection (schools, nonprofits, adaptive sport, international programs), reach out—bridges are built one introduction at a time.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Jen Oldham & Jeff Kallio

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio on Expanding Fencing’s Global Reach Jeff Kallio, Bryan Wendell, Jen Oldham 00:35:25 What does it look like to introduce fencing where the sport is completely unknown—and where it can mean structure, belonging, and hope? Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio of Forge Fencing Academy share how a long-term international coaching connection led them to Kenya, including work supporting fencing development in the Kakuma refugee camp and across university communities. They talk logistics (yes, four suitcases of gear), trust-building, coaching across cultures, and what changed in their perspective when they came home. They also share concrete ways the fencing community can help sustain and grow the effort. What does it look like to introduce fencing where the sport is completely unknown—and where it can mean structure, belonging, and hope? Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio of Forge Fencing Academy share how a long-term international coaching connection led them to Kenya, including work supporting fencing development in the Kakuma refugee camp and across university communities. They talk logistics (yes, four suitcases of gear), trust-building, coaching across cultures, and what changed in their perspective when they came home. They also share concrete ways the fencing community can help sustain and grow the effort. fencing, sports, kenya, olympics false full 87 ce679af8-2926-49fd-8ccc-c1129a67c0bd Courtney Hurley OLY & Chris Ferrara on Building College-Ready Scholar-Athletes Season 2, Episode 18
Guests:

Courtney Hurley OLY — Three-time Olympian (team bronze), Head Coach, Duke City Fencing; program lead at Menaul School

Chris Ferrara — Assistant Head of School & Upper School Director, Menaul School (Albuquerque, NM)

What we cover

Courtney’s transition from Olympian to coach: passing on elite habits, culture-building, and motivation

The liberal-arts lens (Chris): teaching how to think, not what to think; “high challenge, high support” academics

Why daily, in-school training matters: Menaul’s 70–85 minute fencing block every day, plus after-school lessons and club bouting

Time management that works: block schedules, LMS support on travel days, concrete checkpoints from advisors/homeroom

The parent role: authoritative (not authoritarian); building habits and internal drive without a pressure cooker

Competition as fuel: why early meets accelerate learning and buy-in

Building a regional pipeline: growing Albuquerque’s fencing scene—and why a smaller state can be a strategic advantage

The three-weapon vision: adding dedicated foil/saber coaches, strength training, and an NCAA-style structure

Scholar-athlete outcomes: how varsity-level sport correlates with college success—and how fencing fits college admissions

Links

Learn more about Menaul School’s fencing program (with Duke City Fencing):
https://www.menaulschool.org/fencing-find-your-edge/

Timestamps

0:00 — Two perspectives, one goal: student-athletes who thrive

1:17 — Courtney: fencing was “who I am”—why coaching was the natural next step

2:30 — Chris: the liberal-arts case for scholar-athletes (mind–body–spirit)

4:57 — Using fencing strategically in college planning

5:24 — Courtney’s scholar-athlete path: school support + travel reality

7:21 — Western travel culture & flexible academics (LMS on the road)

8:36 — Teaching time management: high challenge, high support

10:16 — Coach’s role: priorities, buy-in, and aligning goals

11:30 — A week in the life: daily fencing block (70–85 min), block classes, after-school lessons

14:55 — Culture shift in ABQ: from hobby to competitive

16:18 — Why daily training compresses learning curves

17:12 — The three-to-five-year plan: three weapons, S&C, university-style structure

18:26 — Why athletics belong in school: GPA + varsity sport = college success

20:45 — Life skills from fencing: perseverance, interviews, careers

22:09 — The parent balance: building habits & ownership

26:26 — Making fencing the best part of the day (present-moment focus)

27:55 — What Courtney gets from coaching: a new challenge, new results

30:07 — Fit questions for families considering Menaul

33:00 — Why boarding + fencing can unlock opportunity

34:51 — Putting Albuquerque on the map—competitively

36:36 — A small-state advantage in college admissions

Quotable

“You’re a club before you’re a team—culture keeps kids showing up. But daily reps inside the school day? That’s what accelerates progress.” — Courtney Hurley

“The #1 predictor of college success is GPA; the #2 is participation in varsity-level sports.” — Chris Ferrara

Call to action
Curious about the school-day fencing model? Explore Menaul’s program and how it pairs with Duke City Fencing: https://www.menaulschool.org/fencing-find-your-edge/

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Courtney Hurley OLY & Chris Ferrara

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 8 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Chris Ferrara, Courtney Hurley, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/courtney-hurley-oly-chris-ferrara-qZXTPwnN Season 2, Episode 18
Guests:

Courtney Hurley OLY — Three-time Olympian (team bronze), Head Coach, Duke City Fencing; program lead at Menaul School

Chris Ferrara — Assistant Head of School & Upper School Director, Menaul School (Albuquerque, NM)

What we cover

Courtney’s transition from Olympian to coach: passing on elite habits, culture-building, and motivation

The liberal-arts lens (Chris): teaching how to think, not what to think; “high challenge, high support” academics

Why daily, in-school training matters: Menaul’s 70–85 minute fencing block every day, plus after-school lessons and club bouting

Time management that works: block schedules, LMS support on travel days, concrete checkpoints from advisors/homeroom

The parent role: authoritative (not authoritarian); building habits and internal drive without a pressure cooker

Competition as fuel: why early meets accelerate learning and buy-in

Building a regional pipeline: growing Albuquerque’s fencing scene—and why a smaller state can be a strategic advantage

The three-weapon vision: adding dedicated foil/saber coaches, strength training, and an NCAA-style structure

Scholar-athlete outcomes: how varsity-level sport correlates with college success—and how fencing fits college admissions

Links

Learn more about Menaul School’s fencing program (with Duke City Fencing):
https://www.menaulschool.org/fencing-find-your-edge/

Timestamps

0:00 — Two perspectives, one goal: student-athletes who thrive

1:17 — Courtney: fencing was “who I am”—why coaching was the natural next step

2:30 — Chris: the liberal-arts case for scholar-athletes (mind–body–spirit)

4:57 — Using fencing strategically in college planning

5:24 — Courtney’s scholar-athlete path: school support + travel reality

7:21 — Western travel culture & flexible academics (LMS on the road)

8:36 — Teaching time management: high challenge, high support

10:16 — Coach’s role: priorities, buy-in, and aligning goals

11:30 — A week in the life: daily fencing block (70–85 min), block classes, after-school lessons

14:55 — Culture shift in ABQ: from hobby to competitive

16:18 — Why daily training compresses learning curves

17:12 — The three-to-five-year plan: three weapons, S&C, university-style structure

18:26 — Why athletics belong in school: GPA + varsity sport = college success

20:45 — Life skills from fencing: perseverance, interviews, careers

22:09 — The parent balance: building habits & ownership

26:26 — Making fencing the best part of the day (present-moment focus)

27:55 — What Courtney gets from coaching: a new challenge, new results

30:07 — Fit questions for families considering Menaul

33:00 — Why boarding + fencing can unlock opportunity

34:51 — Putting Albuquerque on the map—competitively

36:36 — A small-state advantage in college admissions

Quotable

“You’re a club before you’re a team—culture keeps kids showing up. But daily reps inside the school day? That’s what accelerates progress.” — Courtney Hurley

“The #1 predictor of college success is GPA; the #2 is participation in varsity-level sports.” — Chris Ferrara

Call to action
Curious about the school-day fencing model? Explore Menaul’s program and how it pairs with Duke City Fencing: https://www.menaulschool.org/fencing-find-your-edge/

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Courtney Hurley OLY & Chris Ferrara

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Courtney Hurley OLY & Chris Ferrara on Building College-Ready Scholar-Athletes Chris Ferrara, Courtney Hurley, Bryan Wendell 00:39:29 Three-time Olympian and team bronze medalist Courtney Hurley OLY has shifted from the strip to the coach’s chair, bringing elite standards and a growth-first culture to Albuquerque. She’s joined by Chris Ferrara, Assistant Head of School at Menaul School, who lays out how a liberal-arts model (mind–body–spirit) and intentional academic support help teens thrive as student-athletes. Together they unpack time management, motivation, the parent’s role, how to structure daily fencing within the school day, and why their Menaul × Duke City Fencing partnership is accelerating progress for newcomers and competitors alike. Three-time Olympian and team bronze medalist Courtney Hurley OLY has shifted from the strip to the coach’s chair, bringing elite standards and a growth-first culture to Albuquerque. She’s joined by Chris Ferrara, Assistant Head of School at Menaul School, who lays out how a liberal-arts model (mind–body–spirit) and intentional academic support help teens thrive as student-athletes. Together they unpack time management, motivation, the parent’s role, how to structure daily fencing within the school day, and why their Menaul × Duke City Fencing partnership is accelerating progress for newcomers and competitors alike. fencing, college, college sports, college prep false full 86 bd6209d6-67bf-4b84-8ebe-562446afba04 Eric Nassos on the Joys of Collegiate Club Fencing Season 2, Episode 17
Guest: Eric Nassos — Head Coach & former president/captain, Marquette University Fencing (Collegiate Club)

What we cover

Paths after high school if there’s no NCAA team: local clubs, campus clubs, and how to mix both

Starting (or reviving) a club: student sign-ups, admin petition, storage, safety-compliant gear, and budgeting

Funding in the real world: dues, university reimbursements (gas/housing), refereeing local HS events, and why you still need cash up front

Recruiting interest when you’re new: tabling, flyers, dorm hustling, “make some friends,” and simple marketing that works

What to expect at practice: flexible structures, coach + student leaders, mixed experience levels (walk-ons → Cs/Es by graduation)

Parents’ role: researching clubs, DM’ing teams, campus tour questions, where to help — and where to step back

Evaluating clubs: Instagram responsiveness, recent posts, campus name recognition, replies to email/DM, continuity signals

Keeping clubs healthy year to year: positive culture first, competitive goals second, a coach or alumni bridge third

Competition ladder: local meets → regional conferences (e.g., Midwest Fencing Conference) → USACFCnationals

Fielding weapons creatively: start with what you have (epee-only? fine), partner with nearby schools to cover other weapons

Setting expectations: where RYC/JO-experienced fencers fit, how walk-ons progress, and why club fencing builds career-ready skills

Practical takeaways

Green flags: active social accounts, replies to outreach, visible campus awareness, published practice times, clear officers

Budget hacks: learn your school’s reimbursement rules; join USACFC for perks and connectivity; partner with nearby clubs/schools

Practice idea: pair experienced fencers with beginners in simple drills to accelerate skill transfer and community

Lifelong pipeline: club alumni become local-club members, parents of fencers, and future volunteer leaders

Timestamps

0:00 — Club fencing: real team, real coaching, real flexibility

1:49 — Paths if there’s no NCAA program

2:47 — Funding reality: dues, refs, reimbursements

4:00 — If your school has no club (or dormant gear)

5:36 — Finding the first 40 names: “time to make some friends”

7:39 — What experienced fencers can expect (and leadership roles)

9:04 — Walk-on success stories and day-one curriculum

10:59 — Parents’ role: research & outreach that actually helps

12:34 — Comparing clubs: online presence and responsiveness

14:53 — Coaching models & practice structure at Marquette

17:20 — Longevity: culture → competition → coach/alumni bridge

19:35 — How Marquette found the broader ecosystem

22:36 — The competitive ladder: conferences & USACFC

25:42 — Fielding weapons with limited roster (and partnerships)

26:59 — Skill levels: where a JO/RYC background fits

28:55 — What a club trip weekend looks like

30:31 — Time & money expectations (realistic, flexible)

33:15 — Walk-on to rated fencer: a case study

36:00 — Quick hits: lifelong fans, green flags, drills, budget hacks, door sign

Quotable

“You’re a club before you’re a team. Culture keeps people showing up.” — Eric Nassos

“Within the freedom — and the funding gaps — you get a real-world education.” — Eric Nassos

Call to action
Share this with a high-school junior/senior (and their parents). If your campus club needs a hand getting started or connected, Eric says he’s happy to help — reach out at swordandquill.en@gmail.com

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Eric Nassos

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Eric Nassos, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/eric-nassos-LfWsqI0d Season 2, Episode 17
Guest: Eric Nassos — Head Coach & former president/captain, Marquette University Fencing (Collegiate Club)

What we cover

Paths after high school if there’s no NCAA team: local clubs, campus clubs, and how to mix both

Starting (or reviving) a club: student sign-ups, admin petition, storage, safety-compliant gear, and budgeting

Funding in the real world: dues, university reimbursements (gas/housing), refereeing local HS events, and why you still need cash up front

Recruiting interest when you’re new: tabling, flyers, dorm hustling, “make some friends,” and simple marketing that works

What to expect at practice: flexible structures, coach + student leaders, mixed experience levels (walk-ons → Cs/Es by graduation)

Parents’ role: researching clubs, DM’ing teams, campus tour questions, where to help — and where to step back

Evaluating clubs: Instagram responsiveness, recent posts, campus name recognition, replies to email/DM, continuity signals

Keeping clubs healthy year to year: positive culture first, competitive goals second, a coach or alumni bridge third

Competition ladder: local meets → regional conferences (e.g., Midwest Fencing Conference) → USACFCnationals

Fielding weapons creatively: start with what you have (epee-only? fine), partner with nearby schools to cover other weapons

Setting expectations: where RYC/JO-experienced fencers fit, how walk-ons progress, and why club fencing builds career-ready skills

Practical takeaways

Green flags: active social accounts, replies to outreach, visible campus awareness, published practice times, clear officers

Budget hacks: learn your school’s reimbursement rules; join USACFC for perks and connectivity; partner with nearby clubs/schools

Practice idea: pair experienced fencers with beginners in simple drills to accelerate skill transfer and community

Lifelong pipeline: club alumni become local-club members, parents of fencers, and future volunteer leaders

Timestamps

0:00 — Club fencing: real team, real coaching, real flexibility

1:49 — Paths if there’s no NCAA program

2:47 — Funding reality: dues, refs, reimbursements

4:00 — If your school has no club (or dormant gear)

5:36 — Finding the first 40 names: “time to make some friends”

7:39 — What experienced fencers can expect (and leadership roles)

9:04 — Walk-on success stories and day-one curriculum

10:59 — Parents’ role: research & outreach that actually helps

12:34 — Comparing clubs: online presence and responsiveness

14:53 — Coaching models & practice structure at Marquette

17:20 — Longevity: culture → competition → coach/alumni bridge

19:35 — How Marquette found the broader ecosystem

22:36 — The competitive ladder: conferences & USACFC

25:42 — Fielding weapons with limited roster (and partnerships)

26:59 — Skill levels: where a JO/RYC background fits

28:55 — What a club trip weekend looks like

30:31 — Time & money expectations (realistic, flexible)

33:15 — Walk-on to rated fencer: a case study

36:00 — Quick hits: lifelong fans, green flags, drills, budget hacks, door sign

Quotable

“You’re a club before you’re a team. Culture keeps people showing up.” — Eric Nassos

“Within the freedom — and the funding gaps — you get a real-world education.” — Eric Nassos

Call to action
Share this with a high-school junior/senior (and their parents). If your campus club needs a hand getting started or connected, Eric says he’s happy to help — reach out at swordandquill.en@gmail.com

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Eric Nassos

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Eric Nassos on the Joys of Collegiate Club Fencing Eric Nassos, Bryan Wendell 00:42:54 Not every campus has NCAA fencing — but that doesn’t mean your fencing story ends. Eric Nassos, head coach (and alum) of Marquette University’s collegiate club, explains how club fencing delivers real teammates, real coaching, real competition — with flexibility that fits college life. We cover how to find/compare programs, the parent role, building or restarting a club, funding and travel hacks, coaching models, and the competitive ecosystem (conferences and USACFC nationals). Plus: what success looks like for walk-ons and experienced fencers alike. Not every campus has NCAA fencing — but that doesn’t mean your fencing story ends. Eric Nassos, head coach (and alum) of Marquette University’s collegiate club, explains how club fencing delivers real teammates, real coaching, real competition — with flexibility that fits college life. We cover how to find/compare programs, the parent role, building or restarting a club, funding and travel hacks, coaching models, and the competitive ecosystem (conferences and USACFC nationals). Plus: what success looks like for walk-ons and experienced fencers alike. false full 85 19c13e28-85dd-4e47-b21d-44ae402d4fc9 Ken Gauvey and Michael Hughes on Being Clubmates Who Each Donated Their Kidney Season 2, Episode 16
Guests: Ken Gauvey — Attorney; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)
Michael Hughes — Lifelong fencer, teacher & coach; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)

What we cover

Origin stories: late start (Ken) vs. 50 years in the sport (Michael) — and discovering the Vet community

Why donate? Ken’s family emergency; Michael’s NPR drive-time moment and the “why not me?” mindset

Expectation vs. reality: testing, surgery, different recovery timelines — and the role of baseline fitness

Returning to fencing: “listen to your body,” track metrics, celebrate small wins, and rebuild with intention

Mindfulness & reset: pre-bout rituals, visualization, practicing resets at practice, staying present

DCFC culture: coaches who coach the whole person, morning vet sessions, multigenerational mentorship

Living donation 101: anonymity choices, chains that unlock multiple transplants, practical benefits & follow-up

Practical takeaways

Comeback advice (Ken): listen to your body; rest is training; track sleep/HR/recovery; don’t rush the timeline you wish you had

Mindset (Michael): be present — in conversations, in practice, in each touch; practice your reset like any other skill

Vet community tip: find or build training windows that fit real life (e.g., DCFC’s morning sessions)

If you’re curious about donation

Start with a reputable org (e.g., National Kidney Foundation) or your local transplant center

Understand match/chain programs: one donation can trigger many transplants

Expect thorough screening and ongoing medical follow-up after donation

Timestamps

0:00 — Two donors, one club; two comebacks

1:09 — Ken: from martial arts dad to vet épée podiums

2:15 — Michael: 50 years in the sport; discovering Vet fencing

3:57 — Ken’s decision: a family emergency and a fast timeline

5:28 — Michael’s decision: NPR, stats, and “why not me?”

8:44 — Expectation vs. reality: surgery, testing, recovery

10:43 — Getting back on strip: timelines, protection, green/red lights

15:05 — First tournament back: Ken’s Southern silver & what it meant

16:35 — Mindfulness and the reset habit (practice it at practice)

19:18 — Visualization under a tree (and in a parking lot)

20:05 — What makes DCFC special: coaches, mornings, mentorship

22:58 — Cincinnati NAC: the full-circle moment

24:29 — Advice for any comeback: rest vs. stubbornness; joy vs. pressure

27:40 — Donation info: practical benefits, chains, where to start

Quotable

“Fencing teaches you how to live a life. Be present in the moment.” — Michael Hughes

“I wasn’t hitting anybody, so I visualized hitting people.” — Ken Gauvey

Call to action
Share this episode with a vet fencer—or a friend curious about living donation. If you’re considering donating, talk to your medical team and visit a trusted resource (e.g., the National Kidney Foundation) to learn more.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Ken Gauvey & Michael Hughes

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Ken Gauvey, Michael Hughes, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/ken-gauvey-and-michael-hughes-h_dSD91v Season 2, Episode 16
Guests: Ken Gauvey — Attorney; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)
Michael Hughes — Lifelong fencer, teacher & coach; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)

What we cover

Origin stories: late start (Ken) vs. 50 years in the sport (Michael) — and discovering the Vet community

Why donate? Ken’s family emergency; Michael’s NPR drive-time moment and the “why not me?” mindset

Expectation vs. reality: testing, surgery, different recovery timelines — and the role of baseline fitness

Returning to fencing: “listen to your body,” track metrics, celebrate small wins, and rebuild with intention

Mindfulness & reset: pre-bout rituals, visualization, practicing resets at practice, staying present

DCFC culture: coaches who coach the whole person, morning vet sessions, multigenerational mentorship

Living donation 101: anonymity choices, chains that unlock multiple transplants, practical benefits & follow-up

Practical takeaways

Comeback advice (Ken): listen to your body; rest is training; track sleep/HR/recovery; don’t rush the timeline you wish you had

Mindset (Michael): be present — in conversations, in practice, in each touch; practice your reset like any other skill

Vet community tip: find or build training windows that fit real life (e.g., DCFC’s morning sessions)

If you’re curious about donation

Start with a reputable org (e.g., National Kidney Foundation) or your local transplant center

Understand match/chain programs: one donation can trigger many transplants

Expect thorough screening and ongoing medical follow-up after donation

Timestamps

0:00 — Two donors, one club; two comebacks

1:09 — Ken: from martial arts dad to vet épée podiums

2:15 — Michael: 50 years in the sport; discovering Vet fencing

3:57 — Ken’s decision: a family emergency and a fast timeline

5:28 — Michael’s decision: NPR, stats, and “why not me?”

8:44 — Expectation vs. reality: surgery, testing, recovery

10:43 — Getting back on strip: timelines, protection, green/red lights

15:05 — First tournament back: Ken’s Southern silver & what it meant

16:35 — Mindfulness and the reset habit (practice it at practice)

19:18 — Visualization under a tree (and in a parking lot)

20:05 — What makes DCFC special: coaches, mornings, mentorship

22:58 — Cincinnati NAC: the full-circle moment

24:29 — Advice for any comeback: rest vs. stubbornness; joy vs. pressure

27:40 — Donation info: practical benefits, chains, where to start

Quotable

“Fencing teaches you how to live a life. Be present in the moment.” — Michael Hughes

“I wasn’t hitting anybody, so I visualized hitting people.” — Ken Gauvey

Call to action
Share this episode with a vet fencer—or a friend curious about living donation. If you’re considering donating, talk to your medical team and visit a trusted resource (e.g., the National Kidney Foundation) to learn more.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guests: Ken Gauvey & Michael Hughes

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Ken Gauvey and Michael Hughes on Being Clubmates Who Each Donated Their Kidney Ken Gauvey, Michael Hughes, Bryan Wendell 00:33:02 Two DC Fencers Club veterans, two kidney donations three months apart, two comebacks already rolling. Ken Gauvey donated to his brother; Michael Hughes donated anonymously. They share why they did it, what recovery actually felt like, how they’re rebuilding their fencing, and what’s changed in their perspective. We also talk vet-community culture, mindfulness, listening to your body, and practical first steps if you’re curious about living donation. Two DC Fencers Club veterans, two kidney donations three months apart, two comebacks already rolling. Ken Gauvey donated to his brother; Michael Hughes donated anonymously. They share why they did it, what recovery actually felt like, how they’re rebuilding their fencing, and what’s changed in their perspective. We also talk vet-community culture, mindfulness, listening to your body, and practical first steps if you’re curious about living donation. fencing, sports, kidneydonations false full 84 98b748f6-3652-41af-ac90-91b8c6f4073d Eric Soyka, National Parafencing Coach, on the Growth of Parafencing in the US Season 2, Episode 15
Guest: Eric Soyka — National Parafencing Coach, USA Fencing; Coach at Phoenix Center & Rogue Fencing Academy

What we cover

Origin story: two injured athletes, one suggestion—“try parafencing”—and a deep dive into rules, video, and best practices

How far we’ve come: more media, more youth, and athletes sticking after the Games

Inside the club: fitting a frame into a small space, building a culture of inclusion, “it’s just fencing (sitting down)”

Paris 2024 lessons: qualification is the grind; the Games feel like a (very grand) world cup if you stick to process

Parafencing 101: same tactics, tighter distance, different angles; no passing, constant readiness; what’s actuallydifferent—and what isn’t

Myth-busting & classification: A (more trunk control), B (less), C (arm/hand limitations; worlds only), and why some parafencers can walk

Building a club program: frames, chairs, recruiting, coach ed, referee pathways

Looking forward: increasing camps, cross-country training, and international collaboration as the qualifying cycle begins

How to start a parafencing program (quick hits)

Equipment & setup

Frame: lock chairs safely (wood frames like Rick Swauger’s design work; ask about grants/lending programs)

Chairs: sport-specific; typical cost $3k–$5k (seek grants like Challenged Athletes Foundation); ask Utah Fencing Foundation about distributing “Jed’s Chair.”

Fit a frame into unused margins of your space; keep AB fencing running around it

Recruiting

Contact local VA programs, rehab hospitals, adaptive sports orgs; lean on word of mouth in the disability community

Start for the community, not just the Games—rec athletes count

Coach education

Basics are the same: extension is extension; “lunge” is trunk-driven; target/angles & distance management are the real adjustments

Eric will travel/advise; USFCA is developing resources

Referees

Contact Sean Shumate for the course; observations at Para NACs/para regionals are expanding (in-person and potential Zoom coursework)

Contacts

Program start: email b.mahr@usafencing.org and e.soyka@usafencing.org so we can help and connect you locally

Development priorities (per Eric)

Grassroots: frames/chairs access, frame lending, coach visits, club start-up support

High performance: travel support and more frequent training camps (domestic & international), athlete meet-ups to raise daily training level

Warm-up ideas (for para & AB fencers)

BlazePods / reactive drills for neuro + physical activation

Vector ball (color-react bounces) for quick decision and hand-eye

Timestamps

0:00 — Parafencing’s pressure-cooker distance

1:04 — How Eric found parafencing (and why he stayed)

3:08 — Visibility and youth pipeline growth

4:49 — Making a small club para-friendly

6:33 — Paris ’24: the real gauntlet is qualifying

10:30 — Similarities/differences: tactics, angles, distance, passing

13:08 — Classifications A/B/C & a common myth

15:19 — Obstacles for clubs: frames, chairs, recruiting—and solutions

22:56 — Coach/ref pathways: USFCA, Para NAC courses, observations

27:17 — The plan for LA → Brisbane: camps, access, collaboration

29:56 — What GB (and Europe) have—and how we can adapt in the U.S.

34:43 — Quick hits: where $100k would go, who to email, a go-to drill, one myth to retire

Quotable

“Parafencers are fencers. It’s the same.” — Eric Soyka

“Qualification is harder than the Games—it’s month after month of performing, recovering, and doing it again.” — Eric Soyka

Call to action
If your club is ready to add parafencing, email b.mahr@usafencing.org and e.soyka@usafencing.org to get connected to frames, chairs, grants, coaches, and referee courses.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Eric Soyka

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 3 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Eric Soyka, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/eric-soyka-fK6h1bHD Season 2, Episode 15
Guest: Eric Soyka — National Parafencing Coach, USA Fencing; Coach at Phoenix Center & Rogue Fencing Academy

What we cover

Origin story: two injured athletes, one suggestion—“try parafencing”—and a deep dive into rules, video, and best practices

How far we’ve come: more media, more youth, and athletes sticking after the Games

Inside the club: fitting a frame into a small space, building a culture of inclusion, “it’s just fencing (sitting down)”

Paris 2024 lessons: qualification is the grind; the Games feel like a (very grand) world cup if you stick to process

Parafencing 101: same tactics, tighter distance, different angles; no passing, constant readiness; what’s actuallydifferent—and what isn’t

Myth-busting & classification: A (more trunk control), B (less), C (arm/hand limitations; worlds only), and why some parafencers can walk

Building a club program: frames, chairs, recruiting, coach ed, referee pathways

Looking forward: increasing camps, cross-country training, and international collaboration as the qualifying cycle begins

How to start a parafencing program (quick hits)

Equipment & setup

Frame: lock chairs safely (wood frames like Rick Swauger’s design work; ask about grants/lending programs)

Chairs: sport-specific; typical cost $3k–$5k (seek grants like Challenged Athletes Foundation); ask Utah Fencing Foundation about distributing “Jed’s Chair.”

Fit a frame into unused margins of your space; keep AB fencing running around it

Recruiting

Contact local VA programs, rehab hospitals, adaptive sports orgs; lean on word of mouth in the disability community

Start for the community, not just the Games—rec athletes count

Coach education

Basics are the same: extension is extension; “lunge” is trunk-driven; target/angles & distance management are the real adjustments

Eric will travel/advise; USFCA is developing resources

Referees

Contact Sean Shumate for the course; observations at Para NACs/para regionals are expanding (in-person and potential Zoom coursework)

Contacts

Program start: email b.mahr@usafencing.org and e.soyka@usafencing.org so we can help and connect you locally

Development priorities (per Eric)

Grassroots: frames/chairs access, frame lending, coach visits, club start-up support

High performance: travel support and more frequent training camps (domestic & international), athlete meet-ups to raise daily training level

Warm-up ideas (for para & AB fencers)

BlazePods / reactive drills for neuro + physical activation

Vector ball (color-react bounces) for quick decision and hand-eye

Timestamps

0:00 — Parafencing’s pressure-cooker distance

1:04 — How Eric found parafencing (and why he stayed)

3:08 — Visibility and youth pipeline growth

4:49 — Making a small club para-friendly

6:33 — Paris ’24: the real gauntlet is qualifying

10:30 — Similarities/differences: tactics, angles, distance, passing

13:08 — Classifications A/B/C & a common myth

15:19 — Obstacles for clubs: frames, chairs, recruiting—and solutions

22:56 — Coach/ref pathways: USFCA, Para NAC courses, observations

27:17 — The plan for LA → Brisbane: camps, access, collaboration

29:56 — What GB (and Europe) have—and how we can adapt in the U.S.

34:43 — Quick hits: where $100k would go, who to email, a go-to drill, one myth to retire

Quotable

“Parafencers are fencers. It’s the same.” — Eric Soyka

“Qualification is harder than the Games—it’s month after month of performing, recovering, and doing it again.” — Eric Soyka

Call to action
If your club is ready to add parafencing, email b.mahr@usafencing.org and e.soyka@usafencing.org to get connected to frames, chairs, grants, coaches, and referee courses.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Eric Soyka

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Eric Soyka, National Parafencing Coach, on the Growth of Parafencing in the US Eric Soyka, Bryan Wendell 00:41:01 Eric Soyka, USA Fencing’s National Parafencing Coach (and coach at Phoenix Center & Rogue Fencing Academy), lifts the curtain on a discipline that’s “a knife fight in a phone booth”: parafencing. We cover how he got started, what Paris 2024 taught the team, myths to retire, and the practical steps any club can take to add parafencing—equipment, space, recruiting, coaching, and refereeing. Plus, where the U.S. program is headed as we build toward LA 2028 (and Brisbane) with more camps, more access, and a deeper athlete pipeline. Eric Soyka, USA Fencing’s National Parafencing Coach (and coach at Phoenix Center & Rogue Fencing Academy), lifts the curtain on a discipline that’s “a knife fight in a phone booth”: parafencing. We cover how he got started, what Paris 2024 taught the team, myths to retire, and the practical steps any club can take to add parafencing—equipment, space, recruiting, coaching, and refereeing. Plus, where the U.S. program is headed as we build toward LA 2028 (and Brisbane) with more camps, more access, and a deeper athlete pipeline. paralympics, fencing, parafencing false full 83 c34855c9-45db-4a2e-b271-4cd53895ea52 Amy Wilson on Strategies That Work for Your Neurodivergent Fencers Season 2, Episode 14
Guest: Amy Wilson — Nurse & Higher-Ed Simulation Specialist; youth fencing parent; advocate for neurodivergent athletes

What we cover

Why “calm down” isn’t a strategy: replacing emotions (anger → engagement, under-arousal → activation)

Fencing’s unique demands: fast decisions, constant stimuli, and doing it alone on the strip

The concept: regulate first, then choose to go explosive (“pull the pin on purpose”)

Early warning signs of dysregulation: posture shifts, breath changes, jittering, gear fidgeting

Prevention beats cleanup: proactive routines that keep athletes near the “middle” zone

Why fencing can be great for neurodivergent athletes (stimulus, boundaries, cross-body movement)

Parent–coach partnership: advocacy without power struggles; translating coach feedback

Tools that work: visual charts, nonverbal cues, brief written notes, peer feedback, snacks/hydration

Emergency resets (when the fuse pops): safe sensory “pattern interrupts” and fast re-engagement

Environment tactics: control what you can control without over-calming a kid who needs to compete

Practical toolkit

Observe first: posture, breath, timing, self-touching (e.g., body cord)

Visual feedback card (12 simple icons): on-target, watched lights, stayed centered, didn’t fall, breath, etc. Use silent hash marks during bouts and review between.

Between bouts script: “Does your body need anything?” (water, snack, bathroom, hug) → “Do you want feedback?”

Proactive role-play at home: rehearse day-of scenarios and the visual card so it’s familiar

Break-glass reset options: cold/ice in hand, pleasant sensory (safe “treat”), quick drawing/notes—replace the feeling, don’t debate it

Parent self-care & coverage: tag-team when possible so your presence stays steady and useful

Timestamps

0:00 — Why “regulate, then explode” beats “calm down”

1:18 — Bringing nursing/simulation methods to the strip

2:52 — What makes fencing uniquely tough for kids’ regulation

3:12 — Emotional regulation vs. “be calm”

4:30 — Early signs of drifting out of the optimal zone

5:53 — “Pull the pin on purpose” explained

7:05 — Why intervene; what’s at risk if we don’t

11:05 — Why fencing can be great for neurodivergent athletes

14:46 — How to start: observe, map home strategies → strip strategies

18:31 — Partnering with coaches; translating instruction

23:51 — Visual tools (the 12-icon card) and peer evaluations

29:50 — When the fuse pops: safe sensory interrupts and quick resets

32:08 — Controlling what you can control without over-calming

38:14 — Quick hits for parents: what to pack, what to say (and avoid), how to check in

Quotable

“Don’t calm it away—regulate it and then pull the pin on purpose.” — Amy Wilson

“The loudest thing at a tournament isn’t the beeping—it’s a kid’s negative thought loop.” — Amy Wilson

Call to action
Try one tool at your next practice or tournament: a simple 6–12 icon feedback card, the two-question check-in (“Does your body need anything?” / “Do you want feedback?”), or a pre-planned sensory reset. Share what worked with your coach.

Resources from Amy

  1. Bout Feedback Image Sheet
  2. Emotional Regulation Pattern Identifier

We also benefitted greatly from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's ADHD Parenting Seminars. CCHMC's Center for ADHD is "one of the largest in the country devoted entirely to improving the care of children and adolescents with ADHD." 

Center for ADHD | Cincinnati Children's

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Amy Wilson

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Amy Wilson, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/amy-wilson-luphifn-55XhRgsa Season 2, Episode 14
Guest: Amy Wilson — Nurse & Higher-Ed Simulation Specialist; youth fencing parent; advocate for neurodivergent athletes

What we cover

Why “calm down” isn’t a strategy: replacing emotions (anger → engagement, under-arousal → activation)

Fencing’s unique demands: fast decisions, constant stimuli, and doing it alone on the strip

The concept: regulate first, then choose to go explosive (“pull the pin on purpose”)

Early warning signs of dysregulation: posture shifts, breath changes, jittering, gear fidgeting

Prevention beats cleanup: proactive routines that keep athletes near the “middle” zone

Why fencing can be great for neurodivergent athletes (stimulus, boundaries, cross-body movement)

Parent–coach partnership: advocacy without power struggles; translating coach feedback

Tools that work: visual charts, nonverbal cues, brief written notes, peer feedback, snacks/hydration

Emergency resets (when the fuse pops): safe sensory “pattern interrupts” and fast re-engagement

Environment tactics: control what you can control without over-calming a kid who needs to compete

Practical toolkit

Observe first: posture, breath, timing, self-touching (e.g., body cord)

Visual feedback card (12 simple icons): on-target, watched lights, stayed centered, didn’t fall, breath, etc. Use silent hash marks during bouts and review between.

Between bouts script: “Does your body need anything?” (water, snack, bathroom, hug) → “Do you want feedback?”

Proactive role-play at home: rehearse day-of scenarios and the visual card so it’s familiar

Break-glass reset options: cold/ice in hand, pleasant sensory (safe “treat”), quick drawing/notes—replace the feeling, don’t debate it

Parent self-care & coverage: tag-team when possible so your presence stays steady and useful

Timestamps

0:00 — Why “regulate, then explode” beats “calm down”

1:18 — Bringing nursing/simulation methods to the strip

2:52 — What makes fencing uniquely tough for kids’ regulation

3:12 — Emotional regulation vs. “be calm”

4:30 — Early signs of drifting out of the optimal zone

5:53 — “Pull the pin on purpose” explained

7:05 — Why intervene; what’s at risk if we don’t

11:05 — Why fencing can be great for neurodivergent athletes

14:46 — How to start: observe, map home strategies → strip strategies

18:31 — Partnering with coaches; translating instruction

23:51 — Visual tools (the 12-icon card) and peer evaluations

29:50 — When the fuse pops: safe sensory interrupts and quick resets

32:08 — Controlling what you can control without over-calming

38:14 — Quick hits for parents: what to pack, what to say (and avoid), how to check in

Quotable

“Don’t calm it away—regulate it and then pull the pin on purpose.” — Amy Wilson

“The loudest thing at a tournament isn’t the beeping—it’s a kid’s negative thought loop.” — Amy Wilson

Call to action
Try one tool at your next practice or tournament: a simple 6–12 icon feedback card, the two-question check-in (“Does your body need anything?” / “Do you want feedback?”), or a pre-planned sensory reset. Share what worked with your coach.

Resources from Amy

  1. Bout Feedback Image Sheet
  2. Emotional Regulation Pattern Identifier

We also benefitted greatly from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's ADHD Parenting Seminars. CCHMC's Center for ADHD is "one of the largest in the country devoted entirely to improving the care of children and adolescents with ADHD." 

Center for ADHD | Cincinnati Children's

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Amy Wilson

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Amy Wilson on Strategies That Work for Your Neurodivergent Fencers Amy Wilson, Bryan Wendell 00:42:24 Nurse and simulation specialist Amy Wilson shares a practical, stigma-free playbook for helping youth—and especially neurodivergent—fencers manage energy, focus, and emotions on competition day. Instead of “calm down,” Amy teaches athletes to regulate and then “pull the pin on purpose”—choosing the right moment to go explosive. We cover observation strategies for parents/coaches, low-tech visual tools, co-regulation and communication, and in-the-moment resets that keep kids engaged with the sport they love. Nurse and simulation specialist Amy Wilson shares a practical, stigma-free playbook for helping youth—and especially neurodivergent—fencers manage energy, focus, and emotions on competition day. Instead of “calm down,” Amy teaches athletes to regulate and then “pull the pin on purpose”—choosing the right moment to go explosive. We cover observation strategies for parents/coaches, low-tech visual tools, co-regulation and communication, and in-the-moment resets that keep kids engaged with the sport they love. fencing, sports, neurodivergence false full 82 9fd6fae6-7f94-406b-9dfc-de53687b547c Ari Simmons on What Fencing Teaches About Grit and Avoiding Burnout Season 2, Episode 13
Guest: Ari Simmons — U.S. Men’s Epee; Cadet World Champion; 4x All-American (Notre Dame); Coach/Mentor; Co-host, The Direct Elimination Podcast

What we cover

Origin story: from Alliance Fencing Academy kid to cadet world champ

Why the sport still “gives him life”—and how fencing builds the person off the strip

Closing the junior-to-senior gap in U.S. men’s epee: mentorship, shared training, professionalism

The Seth Kelsey effect: a national coach who’s been there—and still laces up

College path: the candid Notre Dame story (gap year, fit, and what coaches now look for)

Burnout: intention, process-over-outcomes, compartmentalizing roles, and taking real time off

Mentoring with KM Fencing: common trends he sees (and why some kids need more play)

Content, community, and making the sport more accessible to the next generation

Lightning round: dream podcast guest, favorite cities, music, and the “favorite touch” series

Timestamps

0:00 — Intro: resilience, one-touch margins, and LA 2028

1:29 — Alliance beginnings; why he stayed when wins didn’t come early

6:50 — Culture shift: mentorship and sharing across generations

8:24 — Junior vs. senior success; what’s changing in men’s epee

10:50 — Seth Kelsey’s impact and the team’s buy-in

14:42 — College recruiting: honesty about fit; advice for today’s landscape

23:12 — Why commitment matters to college coaches now

24:35 — Avoiding burnout: intention, process goals, real rest

31:00 — KM Mentorship: trends (pressure, expectations) and helping athletes thrive

40:26 — Lightning round: guests, cities, hobbies, playlist, favorite video

Quotable

“Fencing is a mirror—how I sharpen discipline, humility, and honesty on the strip shows up in my life off it.” — Ari Simmons

“A rising tide raises all ships: when we work together, men’s epee gets better.” — Ari Simmons

Call to action
Follow Ari on Instagram @AriSimmons and check out The Direct Elimination Podcast for athlete-to-athlete conversations on grit, failure, and purpose. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate/review First to 15 to help more fencers find the show.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Ari Simmons

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Ari Simmons, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/ari-simmons-_t_fiIxw Season 2, Episode 13
Guest: Ari Simmons — U.S. Men’s Epee; Cadet World Champion; 4x All-American (Notre Dame); Coach/Mentor; Co-host, The Direct Elimination Podcast

What we cover

Origin story: from Alliance Fencing Academy kid to cadet world champ

Why the sport still “gives him life”—and how fencing builds the person off the strip

Closing the junior-to-senior gap in U.S. men’s epee: mentorship, shared training, professionalism

The Seth Kelsey effect: a national coach who’s been there—and still laces up

College path: the candid Notre Dame story (gap year, fit, and what coaches now look for)

Burnout: intention, process-over-outcomes, compartmentalizing roles, and taking real time off

Mentoring with KM Fencing: common trends he sees (and why some kids need more play)

Content, community, and making the sport more accessible to the next generation

Lightning round: dream podcast guest, favorite cities, music, and the “favorite touch” series

Timestamps

0:00 — Intro: resilience, one-touch margins, and LA 2028

1:29 — Alliance beginnings; why he stayed when wins didn’t come early

6:50 — Culture shift: mentorship and sharing across generations

8:24 — Junior vs. senior success; what’s changing in men’s epee

10:50 — Seth Kelsey’s impact and the team’s buy-in

14:42 — College recruiting: honesty about fit; advice for today’s landscape

23:12 — Why commitment matters to college coaches now

24:35 — Avoiding burnout: intention, process goals, real rest

31:00 — KM Mentorship: trends (pressure, expectations) and helping athletes thrive

40:26 — Lightning round: guests, cities, hobbies, playlist, favorite video

Quotable

“Fencing is a mirror—how I sharpen discipline, humility, and honesty on the strip shows up in my life off it.” — Ari Simmons

“A rising tide raises all ships: when we work together, men’s epee gets better.” — Ari Simmons

Call to action
Follow Ari on Instagram @AriSimmons and check out The Direct Elimination Podcast for athlete-to-athlete conversations on grit, failure, and purpose. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate/review First to 15 to help more fencers find the show.

Credits
Host: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Ari Simmons

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Ari Simmons on What Fencing Teaches About Grit and Avoiding Burnout Ari Simmons, Bryan Wendell 00:48:25 Ari Simmons — U.S. men’s epee standout, coach, mentor, and co-host of The Direct Elimination Podcast — opens up about the long road from dead-last youth finishes to cadet world champion, four-time All-American at Notre Dame, and senior-team regular with his sights on LA 2028. We dig into building a stronger U.S. men’s epee culture (mentorship, professionalism, teamwork), navigating college recruiting, staving off burnout with intention and process goals, and why paying it forward to the next generation matters. Ari Simmons — U.S. men’s epee standout, coach, mentor, and co-host of The Direct Elimination Podcast — opens up about the long road from dead-last youth finishes to cadet world champion, four-time All-American at Notre Dame, and senior-team regular with his sights on LA 2028. We dig into building a stronger U.S. men’s epee culture (mentorship, professionalism, teamwork), navigating college recruiting, staving off burnout with intention and process goals, and why paying it forward to the next generation matters. false full 80 3f8a4b97-87d4-4e5f-90f6-5715641109b8 Alyssa Hirsch on Telling the Untold Stories of Fencing’s Past Season 2, Episode 12
Guest: Alyssa Hirsch — PhD Student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Fencing Historian

What we cover

How a varsity fencer became a fencing historian

The first spark: a Soviet fencing essay in high school and an interview with coach Anatolie Senic

From Wayne State to Purdue to Illinois: tracing fencing’s place in American and world history

The 1956 Hungarian Revolution and how émigré fencers reshaped U.S. clubs

Alyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet immigration, identity, and fencing as a path to belonging

Sources of history: magazines, oral interviews, advertisements, photographs, and archives

Surprises from research — Cold War cooperation and “game recognizes game” moments

How universities and college teams shape access and inclusion

Fencing’s class barriers and underrepresented groups, and how programs like the Peter Westbrook Foundation help bridge the gap

Preserving history: digitization, oral storytelling, and why every club has its own archive

Advice for aspiring historians: start with your coaches, club posters, and community

Quick hits: time-travel destinations, favorite artifacts, research playlists, and the fencer she’d invite to dinner

Quotable

“When I’m adapting to a new place, the first thing I’d look for is a fencing club.” — Alyssa Hirsch
“History isn’t just politics — it’s people, choices, and friendships on the strip.” — Alyssa Hirsch

Timestamps
00:00 — Intro: turning archives into living stories
01:10 — How Soviet anecdotes sparked a lifelong passion
04:22 — Becoming a fencing historian
05:58 — The 1956 Hungarian Revolution and émigré coaches
08:14 — Alyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet identity through fencing
10:03 — Why fencing history is still largely untold
11:17 — Research process: magazines, ads, archives, interviews
12:59 — Surprising discoveries about Cold War respect and collaboration
15:38 — Collegiate fencing as a bridge across skill levels
17:48 — Class, race, and representation in U.S. fencing
20:21 — Favorite find: a 1958 Soviet fencing manual
22:41 — What being a fencing historian actually looks like
24:22 — Advice for future researchers and club archivists
26:32 — Quick hits: time machine, artifacts, playlists, and Helene Mayer

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Alyssa Hirsch, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/alyssa-hirsch-cNIzdlv2 Season 2, Episode 12
Guest: Alyssa Hirsch — PhD Student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Fencing Historian

What we cover

How a varsity fencer became a fencing historian

The first spark: a Soviet fencing essay in high school and an interview with coach Anatolie Senic

From Wayne State to Purdue to Illinois: tracing fencing’s place in American and world history

The 1956 Hungarian Revolution and how émigré fencers reshaped U.S. clubs

Alyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet immigration, identity, and fencing as a path to belonging

Sources of history: magazines, oral interviews, advertisements, photographs, and archives

Surprises from research — Cold War cooperation and “game recognizes game” moments

How universities and college teams shape access and inclusion

Fencing’s class barriers and underrepresented groups, and how programs like the Peter Westbrook Foundation help bridge the gap

Preserving history: digitization, oral storytelling, and why every club has its own archive

Advice for aspiring historians: start with your coaches, club posters, and community

Quick hits: time-travel destinations, favorite artifacts, research playlists, and the fencer she’d invite to dinner

Quotable

“When I’m adapting to a new place, the first thing I’d look for is a fencing club.” — Alyssa Hirsch
“History isn’t just politics — it’s people, choices, and friendships on the strip.” — Alyssa Hirsch

Timestamps
00:00 — Intro: turning archives into living stories
01:10 — How Soviet anecdotes sparked a lifelong passion
04:22 — Becoming a fencing historian
05:58 — The 1956 Hungarian Revolution and émigré coaches
08:14 — Alyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet identity through fencing
10:03 — Why fencing history is still largely untold
11:17 — Research process: magazines, ads, archives, interviews
12:59 — Surprising discoveries about Cold War respect and collaboration
15:38 — Collegiate fencing as a bridge across skill levels
17:48 — Class, race, and representation in U.S. fencing
20:21 — Favorite find: a 1958 Soviet fencing manual
22:41 — What being a fencing historian actually looks like
24:22 — Advice for future researchers and club archivists
26:32 — Quick hits: time machine, artifacts, playlists, and Helene Mayer

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Alyssa Hirsch on Telling the Untold Stories of Fencing’s Past Alyssa Hirsch, Bryan Wendell 00:37:00 Fencing has a long and fascinating history — and Alyssa Hirsch is helping uncover it. A Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and former Wayne State varsity fencer, Alyssa studies 20th-century U.S. fencing and its intersections with immigration, identity, and the Soviet Union. She joins First to 15 to share how she became a fencing historian, the stories she’s discovering — from post-Soviet coaches to Cold War camaraderie — and how every club can help preserve its own history. Fencing has a long and fascinating history — and Alyssa Hirsch is helping uncover it. A Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and former Wayne State varsity fencer, Alyssa studies 20th-century U.S. fencing and its intersections with immigration, identity, and the Soviet Union. She joins First to 15 to share how she became a fencing historian, the stories she’s discovering — from post-Soviet coaches to Cold War camaraderie — and how every club can help preserve its own history. fencing, history, olympics false full 79 e28c43c5-c6c2-4cd9-ba03-535c6f820fc9 Dr. Nicole Polanichka on Turning Competition Anxiety Into Confidence Season 2, Episode 11
Guest: Dr. Nicole Polanichka — Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Mental Performance Consultant, Veteran Fencer

What we cover

Nicole’s fencing origin story (and The Princess Bride connection)

The veteran fencing community as a supportive, lifelong home

How her psychology training reshaped her approach to competition

Why the stigma around mental health in sports is lifting

What makes fencing unique: individual pressure + fight-or-flight triggers

Red flags for parents: when nerves cross into fear or lost joy

Physiology of competition-day anxiety (and why it helps, not hurts)

Reframing nerves as “go juice” and building pre-bout mantras

What parents and coaches can do (and not do) to support athletes

Pre-competition routines: control the controllables, consistency, music, notes

Reset tools after a bad bout: “short memory,” rituals, music, breathing

Staying consistent through higher-pressure rounds to avoid choking

Quick hits:

Mask mantra: “Excitement, not fear”

Weather forecast for her nerves

Taylor Swift on her playlist

Recommended book: Beyond Grit

Visualization & mindfulness as five-minute club drills

Quotable

“Your body isn’t telling you you’re afraid—it’s telling you it’s go time.” — Dr. Nicole Polanichka

“Control the controllables. Consistency breeds confidence.” — Dr. Nicole Polanichka

Call to action
If you’d like to connect with Dr. Polanichka, you can reach her at nicolepolanichka@gmail.com or spot her at veteran events nationwide.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 6 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nicole Polanichka, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/dr-nicole-polanichka-lQzSy0ZS Season 2, Episode 11
Guest: Dr. Nicole Polanichka — Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Mental Performance Consultant, Veteran Fencer

What we cover

Nicole’s fencing origin story (and The Princess Bride connection)

The veteran fencing community as a supportive, lifelong home

How her psychology training reshaped her approach to competition

Why the stigma around mental health in sports is lifting

What makes fencing unique: individual pressure + fight-or-flight triggers

Red flags for parents: when nerves cross into fear or lost joy

Physiology of competition-day anxiety (and why it helps, not hurts)

Reframing nerves as “go juice” and building pre-bout mantras

What parents and coaches can do (and not do) to support athletes

Pre-competition routines: control the controllables, consistency, music, notes

Reset tools after a bad bout: “short memory,” rituals, music, breathing

Staying consistent through higher-pressure rounds to avoid choking

Quick hits:

Mask mantra: “Excitement, not fear”

Weather forecast for her nerves

Taylor Swift on her playlist

Recommended book: Beyond Grit

Visualization & mindfulness as five-minute club drills

Quotable

“Your body isn’t telling you you’re afraid—it’s telling you it’s go time.” — Dr. Nicole Polanichka

“Control the controllables. Consistency breeds confidence.” — Dr. Nicole Polanichka

Call to action
If you’d like to connect with Dr. Polanichka, you can reach her at nicolepolanichka@gmail.com or spot her at veteran events nationwide.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Dr. Nicole Polanichka on Turning Competition Anxiety Into Confidence Nicole Polanichka, Bryan Wendell 00:39:07 Licensed clinical psychologist, mental performance consultant, and lifelong fencer Dr. Nicole Polanichka joins First to 15 to break down the mental game of fencing. From butterflies in your stomach to sweaty palms, she explains why those pre-bout nerves aren’t your enemy — they’re your body preparing you to perform. Nicole shares her own journey as a Princeton varsity fencer and veteran competitor, offers tools to reframe anxiety as “go juice,” and gives practical routines for athletes, parents, and coaches to turn stress into strength. Licensed clinical psychologist, mental performance consultant, and lifelong fencer Dr. Nicole Polanichka joins First to 15 to break down the mental game of fencing. From butterflies in your stomach to sweaty palms, she explains why those pre-bout nerves aren’t your enemy — they’re your body preparing you to perform. Nicole shares her own journey as a Princeton varsity fencer and veteran competitor, offers tools to reframe anxiety as “go juice,” and gives practical routines for athletes, parents, and coaches to turn stress into strength. fencing, mental performance, sports, olympics false full 78 f76c8ee1-8b17-417c-9ad3-3c50dce746dd Ben Paul of Leon Paul Talks Memories from London 2012 and What’s Next in Fencing Gear Season 2, Episode 10
Guest: Ben Paul — Director, Leon Paul (London)

What we cover

  • Origin story: growing up in a workshop where design meets fencing
  • Competing (a little), engineering (a lot), and finding his lane in the family business
  • Early e-commerce: how a website opened Leon Paul to the world
  • Milestones:
    • Atlanta 1996: modular raised aluminum pistes
    • London 2012: Tron-like show lighting that helped reshape fencing’s look
  • Why manufacture in London: speed of iteration, quality control, and skilled talent
  • Tradition vs. innovation: designing for real users, not just the designer’s taste
  • U.S. growth: retail “shop” booths, early athlete partners, and America’s rise
  • Sponsorship philosophy: support younger athletes and build two-way feedback
  • Movies & media: James Bond set work, Bob Anderson’s legacy, and why saying “yes” helps the sport
  • Veterans & longevity: fencing as a sport for life

What’s next:

Wireless fencing (lighter setups, lower maintenance, eventual in-weapon systems)

Haptics for fencers; faster club turnover and simpler user experience

AI ref-assist to explain calls and reduce beginner frustration

Gear ethos: buy well, repair, hand down—performance + sustainability

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Ben Paul, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/ben-paul-13grIPhj Season 2, Episode 10
Guest: Ben Paul — Director, Leon Paul (London)

What we cover

  • Origin story: growing up in a workshop where design meets fencing
  • Competing (a little), engineering (a lot), and finding his lane in the family business
  • Early e-commerce: how a website opened Leon Paul to the world
  • Milestones:
    • Atlanta 1996: modular raised aluminum pistes
    • London 2012: Tron-like show lighting that helped reshape fencing’s look
  • Why manufacture in London: speed of iteration, quality control, and skilled talent
  • Tradition vs. innovation: designing for real users, not just the designer’s taste
  • U.S. growth: retail “shop” booths, early athlete partners, and America’s rise
  • Sponsorship philosophy: support younger athletes and build two-way feedback
  • Movies & media: James Bond set work, Bob Anderson’s legacy, and why saying “yes” helps the sport
  • Veterans & longevity: fencing as a sport for life

What’s next:

Wireless fencing (lighter setups, lower maintenance, eventual in-weapon systems)

Haptics for fencers; faster club turnover and simpler user experience

AI ref-assist to explain calls and reduce beginner frustration

Gear ethos: buy well, repair, hand down—performance + sustainability

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Ben Paul of Leon Paul Talks Memories from London 2012 and What’s Next in Fencing Gear Ben Paul, Bryan Wendell 00:38:26 Ben Paul, director at Leon Paul, takes us from the family’s London workshop to Olympic arenas and movie sets. He shares how a century-old company helped reinvent raised pistes and Olympic lighting, why they still manufacture in London, and how they balance tradition with bold innovation. We also dive into athlete sponsorships, fencing’s pop-culture moments (from James Bond to The Princess Bride), and what’s next: truly wireless fencing and AI-assisted refereeing. Quick hits include museum-worthy props, club upgrades, haptics, drum-and-bass inbox sprints, and why buying quality gear once can last for years. Ben Paul, director at Leon Paul, takes us from the family’s London workshop to Olympic arenas and movie sets. He shares how a century-old company helped reinvent raised pistes and Olympic lighting, why they still manufacture in London, and how they balance tradition with bold innovation. We also dive into athlete sponsorships, fencing’s pop-culture moments (from James Bond to The Princess Bride), and what’s next: truly wireless fencing and AI-assisted refereeing. Quick hits include museum-worthy props, club upgrades, haptics, drum-and-bass inbox sprints, and why buying quality gear once can last for years. fencing, sports, sporting equipment, sports equipment, olympics false full 77 d1808fd5-9679-4c5a-bc03-1b93ce405ee7 Damien Lehfeldt, USA Fencing Board Chair, on the Difference Between Governance and Operations Season 2, Episode 9
Guest: Damien Lehfeldt — Chair, USA Fencing Board of Directors; Coach, Nova Fencing Club

What we cover

  • Origin story: three decades in fencing—community first, results second
  • Coaching during the Great Recession; mentoring as purpose
  • Making fencing simpler: free articles, open-source resources, data tools
  • Why run for the Board? Giving back and building on post-Tokyo momentum
  • Being elected chair: peers’ trust and the responsibility that comes with it
  • Governance vs. operations, in plain English:
  • Board = GPS (strategy, oversight, risk)
  • Staff/CEO = Driver (events, execution, day-to-day)
  • Concrete example (Summer Nationals): board sets KPIs; staff builds the experience (merch, flow, logistics)
  • The 2024–28 Strategic Plan: membership, clubs, brand, referees—and a clear push for parafencing
  • Parafencing pipeline: more athletes and coaches now to compete for medals at LA28
  • Working with the CEO: frequent communication, healthy disagreement, shared transparency (monthly updates, “5 Minutes with Phil”)
  • Governance Task Force proposals: scaling with growth and the 4-4-4 model (four elected at-large, four appointed—including two independents—to add outside expertise, four athlete reps)
  • Why independents matter: challenge “we’ve always done it this way,” add boardcraft and industry experience
  • What success looks like for Damien’s term: deliver the plan—growth, equity, sustainable governance

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Damien Lehfeldt) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/damien-lehfeldt-2-rAtqxuKI Season 2, Episode 9
Guest: Damien Lehfeldt — Chair, USA Fencing Board of Directors; Coach, Nova Fencing Club

What we cover

  • Origin story: three decades in fencing—community first, results second
  • Coaching during the Great Recession; mentoring as purpose
  • Making fencing simpler: free articles, open-source resources, data tools
  • Why run for the Board? Giving back and building on post-Tokyo momentum
  • Being elected chair: peers’ trust and the responsibility that comes with it
  • Governance vs. operations, in plain English:
  • Board = GPS (strategy, oversight, risk)
  • Staff/CEO = Driver (events, execution, day-to-day)
  • Concrete example (Summer Nationals): board sets KPIs; staff builds the experience (merch, flow, logistics)
  • The 2024–28 Strategic Plan: membership, clubs, brand, referees—and a clear push for parafencing
  • Parafencing pipeline: more athletes and coaches now to compete for medals at LA28
  • Working with the CEO: frequent communication, healthy disagreement, shared transparency (monthly updates, “5 Minutes with Phil”)
  • Governance Task Force proposals: scaling with growth and the 4-4-4 model (four elected at-large, four appointed—including two independents—to add outside expertise, four athlete reps)
  • Why independents matter: challenge “we’ve always done it this way,” add boardcraft and industry experience
  • What success looks like for Damien’s term: deliver the plan—growth, equity, sustainable governance

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Damien Lehfeldt, USA Fencing Board Chair, on the Difference Between Governance and Operations Bryan Wendell, Damien Lehfeldt 00:38:10 Damien Lehfeldt — chair of the USA Fencing Board of Directors and coach at Nova Fencing Club — joins First to 15 to demystify governance vs. operations inside an NGB. He shares his path from athlete to coach to board chair, how the board sets strategy while staff executes, and why the 2024–28 Strategic Plan centers on “growth, growth, growth” (memberships, clubs, brand, referees, and parafencing). We dig into the Governance Task Force proposals (including the flexible 4-4-4 board model), the importance of independent directors, and how he and CEO Phil Andrews collaborate without crossing lanes. Plus, quick hits on Damien’s governance mantra, his “magic wand” for clubs, and why governance is pure épée. Damien Lehfeldt — chair of the USA Fencing Board of Directors and coach at Nova Fencing Club — joins First to 15 to demystify governance vs. operations inside an NGB. He shares his path from athlete to coach to board chair, how the board sets strategy while staff executes, and why the 2024–28 Strategic Plan centers on “growth, growth, growth” (memberships, clubs, brand, referees, and parafencing). We dig into the Governance Task Force proposals (including the flexible 4-4-4 board model), the importance of independent directors, and how he and CEO Phil Andrews collaborate without crossing lanes. Plus, quick hits on Damien’s governance mantra, his “magic wand” for clubs, and why governance is pure épée. paralympics, fencing, sports, olympics false full 76 8bfae516-474b-4cb0-b6f8-073ff3cd233b Eli Dershwitz on Why He Bought Zeta Fencing, His Childhood Club Season 2, Episode 8
Guest: Eli Dershwitz — Olympian, 2023 World Champion, owner/head coach at Zeta Fencing

What we cover

  • Coming home as owner/head coach: why now, who he called, and the vision for Zeta
  • Building an environment kids want to attend — fun first, challenge second
  • How he partners with parents: clear expectations, routines, and responsibility
  • College recruiting sanity check: focus on small, continuous progress over years
  • Staff development: “watch first, then tune” and slow-and-steady culture building
  • Community impact: expanding access via a foundation and growing the pipeline
  • Athlete vs. coach in 2025–26: how he’ll decide on a push for LA 2028
  • Rapid fire: the EAT mantra, the Milan 2023 gold, overrated drills, Djokovic’s mindset, and a coach’s pre-practice routine

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 8 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Eli Dershwitz, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/eli-dershwitz-2-GD5IIPem Season 2, Episode 8
Guest: Eli Dershwitz — Olympian, 2023 World Champion, owner/head coach at Zeta Fencing

What we cover

  • Coming home as owner/head coach: why now, who he called, and the vision for Zeta
  • Building an environment kids want to attend — fun first, challenge second
  • How he partners with parents: clear expectations, routines, and responsibility
  • College recruiting sanity check: focus on small, continuous progress over years
  • Staff development: “watch first, then tune” and slow-and-steady culture building
  • Community impact: expanding access via a foundation and growing the pipeline
  • Athlete vs. coach in 2025–26: how he’ll decide on a push for LA 2028
  • Rapid fire: the EAT mantra, the Milan 2023 gold, overrated drills, Djokovic’s mindset, and a coach’s pre-practice routine

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Eli Dershwitz on Why He Bought Zeta Fencing, His Childhood Club Eli Dershwitz, Bryan Wendell 00:35:14 Olympian and 2023 World Champion Eli Dershwitz returns to First to 15 with a unicorn update: he’s bought the club where he trained for 17 years — Zeta Fencing outside Boston — and stepped in as owner and head coach. We talk about translating world-class saber into beginner-friendly training, partnering with parents, setting expectations around college recruiting, and what Paris and the most recent Olympic cycle taught him about leadership and leaving with no regrets. Eli also shares his club mantra (“EAT: Effort, Attitude, Toughness”), the gold medal he’d put in the lobby case, why stationary drills miss the mark in modern saber, and whether his own path includes a fourth Olympics. Olympian and 2023 World Champion Eli Dershwitz returns to First to 15 with a unicorn update: he’s bought the club where he trained for 17 years — Zeta Fencing outside Boston — and stepped in as owner and head coach. We talk about translating world-class saber into beginner-friendly training, partnering with parents, setting expectations around college recruiting, and what Paris and the most recent Olympic cycle taught him about leadership and leaving with no regrets. Eli also shares his club mantra (“EAT: Effort, Attitude, Toughness”), the gold medal he’d put in the lobby case, why stationary drills miss the mark in modern saber, and whether his own path includes a fourth Olympics. fencing, sports, olympics false full 75 89c55c4d-df7f-491f-8c31-0a474b0aa695 Supriya Nair, Live at 2025 Summer Nationals, Returns with a Neurofencing Update Supriya Nair is a junior at Stanford Online High School, a rare triple‑weapon fencer, and the creator of Neurofencing — a project that asks a simple question every athlete knows: Does a good warm‑up really make you faster? She started by wiring herself up with cheap sensors in her garage. Two years later, she’s collecting data at major hospitals and university labs, using high‑end gear to track hundreds of lunges and reaction times.

But Supriya’s curiosity doesn’t stop at the edge of the strip. Her newest study, done at Seattle Children’s Hospital, looks at how the tiniest blood vessels deep inside the brain differ from those near the surface—a finding she hopes to share at the big Neuroscience 2025 meeting. In this third conversation we’ll recap her journey in plain English, highlight what her latest numbers mean for fencers and coaches, and hear where her science‑meets‑sport adventure goes next.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/supriya-nair-3-pSxWJXNM Supriya Nair is a junior at Stanford Online High School, a rare triple‑weapon fencer, and the creator of Neurofencing — a project that asks a simple question every athlete knows: Does a good warm‑up really make you faster? She started by wiring herself up with cheap sensors in her garage. Two years later, she’s collecting data at major hospitals and university labs, using high‑end gear to track hundreds of lunges and reaction times.

But Supriya’s curiosity doesn’t stop at the edge of the strip. Her newest study, done at Seattle Children’s Hospital, looks at how the tiniest blood vessels deep inside the brain differ from those near the surface—a finding she hopes to share at the big Neuroscience 2025 meeting. In this third conversation we’ll recap her journey in plain English, highlight what her latest numbers mean for fencers and coaches, and hear where her science‑meets‑sport adventure goes next.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Supriya Nair, Live at 2025 Summer Nationals, Returns with a Neurofencing Update Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell 00:30:30 Supriya Nair is a junior at Stanford Online High School, a rare triple‑weapon fencer, and the creator of Neurofencing — a project that asks a simple question every athlete knows: Does a good warm‑up really make you faster? She started by wiring herself up with cheap sensors in her garage. Two years later, she’s collecting data at major hospitals and university labs, using high‑end gear to track hundreds of lunges and reaction times. Supriya Nair is a junior at Stanford Online High School, a rare triple‑weapon fencer, and the creator of Neurofencing — a project that asks a simple question every athlete knows: Does a good warm‑up really make you faster? She started by wiring herself up with cheap sensors in her garage. Two years later, she’s collecting data at major hospitals and university labs, using high‑end gear to track hundreds of lunges and reaction times. fencing, sports, olympics, neurofencing false full 74 176caac1-fc94-4158-b9ba-a36672593122 Luao Yang on the Road From Michigan to a Cadet Men’s Foil World Championship Luao Yang on the Road From Michigan to a Cadet Men’s Foil World Championship

Today we have a very special guest: Luao Yang! Luao is one of Team USA’s brightest young stars – he’s the newly crowned 2025 Cadet Men’s Foil World Champion.

This season he’s racked up impressive international results and made history for USA Fencing, all while still in high school. In this episode, we’ll chat about Luao’s recent competitions and big wins, his journey in fencing (including some standout moments), what it’s like training at his home club in Michigan, and what’s next on his horizon – including college plans – all in a fun, light-hearted conversation. Ready? Let’s get started!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Luao Yang, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/luao-yang-fZ8WqOId Luao Yang on the Road From Michigan to a Cadet Men’s Foil World Championship

Today we have a very special guest: Luao Yang! Luao is one of Team USA’s brightest young stars – he’s the newly crowned 2025 Cadet Men’s Foil World Champion.

This season he’s racked up impressive international results and made history for USA Fencing, all while still in high school. In this episode, we’ll chat about Luao’s recent competitions and big wins, his journey in fencing (including some standout moments), what it’s like training at his home club in Michigan, and what’s next on his horizon – including college plans – all in a fun, light-hearted conversation. Ready? Let’s get started!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Luao Yang on the Road From Michigan to a Cadet Men’s Foil World Championship Luao Yang, Bryan Wendell 00:27:17 Today we have a very special guest: Luao Yang! Luao is one of Team USA’s brightest young stars – he’s the newly crowned 2025 Cadet Men’s Foil World Champion. This season he’s racked up impressive international results and made history for USA Fencing, all while still in high school. In this episode, we’ll chat about Luao’s recent competitions and big wins, his journey in fencing (including some standout moments), what it’s like training at his home club in Michigan, and what’s next on his horizon – including college plans – all in a fun, light-hearted conversation. Ready? Let’s get started! Today we have a very special guest: Luao Yang! Luao is one of Team USA’s brightest young stars – he’s the newly crowned 2025 Cadet Men’s Foil World Champion. This season he’s racked up impressive international results and made history for USA Fencing, all while still in high school. In this episode, we’ll chat about Luao’s recent competitions and big wins, his journey in fencing (including some standout moments), what it’s like training at his home club in Michigan, and what’s next on his horizon – including college plans – all in a fun, light-hearted conversation. Ready? Let’s get started! fencing, sports false full 73 82f784f8-d052-43b1-903f-2d0b59928076 Will Morrill and Emilio Gonzalez on Being Teammates and On-Strip Rivals today we have not one but two special guests whose journeys have been intertwined ever since their first lunges at Scarsdale Fencing Center.

First up is Will Morrill — a former Cadet World Champion who’s now tearing it up on the collegiate scene with the Columbia Lions. Alongside him is Emilio Gonzalez, fresh off winning individual Cadet gold and helping Team USA claim team gold at this year’s Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China.

These two aren’t just teammates on the international stage; they’re training partners, friendly rivals, and close friends who’ve pushed each other to new heights since day one. Today, we’ll talk about what it felt like to stand atop the podium together in Wuxi, how Will is balancing Ivy League life with NCAA fencing, what’s next for Emilio as he starts weighing college options, and plenty of stories from their shared journey in sabre.

We’ll alternate questions so each athlete gets the hot seat in turn — and wrap things up with a rapid-fire Quick Hits round where they’ll both answer the same five quirky questions. It’s going to be a mix of thoughtful reflection, friendly banter, and a few surprises along the way.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 9 Jun 2025 11:14:52 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Will Morrill, Emilio Gonzalez, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/will-morrill-and-emilio-gonzalez-QfbN3N5Y today we have not one but two special guests whose journeys have been intertwined ever since their first lunges at Scarsdale Fencing Center.

First up is Will Morrill — a former Cadet World Champion who’s now tearing it up on the collegiate scene with the Columbia Lions. Alongside him is Emilio Gonzalez, fresh off winning individual Cadet gold and helping Team USA claim team gold at this year’s Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China.

These two aren’t just teammates on the international stage; they’re training partners, friendly rivals, and close friends who’ve pushed each other to new heights since day one. Today, we’ll talk about what it felt like to stand atop the podium together in Wuxi, how Will is balancing Ivy League life with NCAA fencing, what’s next for Emilio as he starts weighing college options, and plenty of stories from their shared journey in sabre.

We’ll alternate questions so each athlete gets the hot seat in turn — and wrap things up with a rapid-fire Quick Hits round where they’ll both answer the same five quirky questions. It’s going to be a mix of thoughtful reflection, friendly banter, and a few surprises along the way.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Will Morrill and Emilio Gonzalez on Being Teammates and On-Strip Rivals Will Morrill, Emilio Gonzalez, Bryan Wendell 00:36:51 Today we have not one but two special guests whose journeys have been intertwined ever since their first lunges at Scarsdale Fencing Center. First up is Will Morrill — a former Cadet World Champion who’s now tearing it up on the collegiate scene with the Columbia Lions. Alongside him is Emilio Gonzalez, fresh off winning individual Cadet gold and helping Team USA claim team gold at this year’s Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China. Today we have not one but two special guests whose journeys have been intertwined ever since their first lunges at Scarsdale Fencing Center. First up is Will Morrill — a former Cadet World Champion who’s now tearing it up on the collegiate scene with the Columbia Lions. Alongside him is Emilio Gonzalez, fresh off winning individual Cadet gold and helping Team USA claim team gold at this year’s Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China. fencing, sports false full 72 6ea676a8-cc89-4f64-b370-3f0f898628ea Princeton’s Alexandra Lee on College Fencing and Junior Worlds Our guest is Alexandra Lee, a sophomore saber fencer at Princeton University and a rising star on the international stage. 

She recently helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China — and even brought home an individual silver in women’s saber as well. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Alexandra's journey, from standing atop the podium in Wuxi to balancing life as an Ivy League student-athlete, and learn what it takes to succeed in both elite fencing and rigorous academics.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 19 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Alexandra Lee, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/alexandra-lee-eouVsMSD Our guest is Alexandra Lee, a sophomore saber fencer at Princeton University and a rising star on the international stage. 

She recently helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China — and even brought home an individual silver in women’s saber as well. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Alexandra's journey, from standing atop the podium in Wuxi to balancing life as an Ivy League student-athlete, and learn what it takes to succeed in both elite fencing and rigorous academics.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Princeton’s Alexandra Lee on College Fencing and Junior Worlds Alexandra Lee, Bryan Wendell 00:34:03 Alexandra Lee is a sophomore saber fencer at Princeton University and a rising star on the international stage. She recently helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China — and even brought home an individual silver in women’s saber as well. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Alexandra's journey, from standing atop the podium in Wuxi to balancing life as an Ivy League student-athlete, and learn what it takes to succeed in both elite fencing and rigorous academics. Alexandra Lee is a sophomore saber fencer at Princeton University and a rising star on the international stage. She recently helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Junior & Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, China — and even brought home an individual silver in women’s saber as well. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Alexandra's journey, from standing atop the podium in Wuxi to balancing life as an Ivy League student-athlete, and learn what it takes to succeed in both elite fencing and rigorous academics. fencing, princetons, sports false full 71 0563e923-9696-4386-9b55-35d4880da909 Don Anthony, Head Coach at Ohio State, on the State of Collegiate Fencing Today I have the distinct honor of speaking with one of fencing’s most impactful figures and someone who’s just been a really great person to get to know in my three years with USA Fencing. It’s Don Anthony. Donald is not just a world-class fencer who competed for Team USA at two Senior World Championships; he’s also a visionary sports executive, an entrepreneur, and a transformational leader. He’s served as President and Chair of USA Fencing, a Vice President of the FIE, and now leads The Ohio State University’s fencing program as Head Coach.

From discovering fencing at age 7 in Cleveland, to studying engineering at Princeton, to earning his MBA from the Wharton School — all while building a career that spans IBM, entrepreneurial ventures, and influential roles in the fencing world — Don’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. 

Today we have a three-part episode for you: we’ll explore his fencing journey, how he balances coaching and leadership roles, and the legacy he’s building for future generations of fencers at Ohio State.

And as we’ve been doing here in season of our show, we’ll end with five quick questions.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Don Anthony, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/don-anthony-EYyGXZyJ Today I have the distinct honor of speaking with one of fencing’s most impactful figures and someone who’s just been a really great person to get to know in my three years with USA Fencing. It’s Don Anthony. Donald is not just a world-class fencer who competed for Team USA at two Senior World Championships; he’s also a visionary sports executive, an entrepreneur, and a transformational leader. He’s served as President and Chair of USA Fencing, a Vice President of the FIE, and now leads The Ohio State University’s fencing program as Head Coach.

From discovering fencing at age 7 in Cleveland, to studying engineering at Princeton, to earning his MBA from the Wharton School — all while building a career that spans IBM, entrepreneurial ventures, and influential roles in the fencing world — Don’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. 

Today we have a three-part episode for you: we’ll explore his fencing journey, how he balances coaching and leadership roles, and the legacy he’s building for future generations of fencers at Ohio State.

And as we’ve been doing here in season of our show, we’ll end with five quick questions.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Don Anthony, Head Coach at Ohio State, on the State of Collegiate Fencing Don Anthony, Bryan Wendell 00:39:25 Today's guest is Don Anthony. Don is not just a world-class fencer who competed for Team USA at two Senior World Championships; he’s also a visionary sports executive, an entrepreneur, and a transformational leader. He’s served as President and Chair of USA Fencing, a Vice President of the FIE, and now leads The Ohio State University’s fencing program as Head Coach. Today's guest is Don Anthony. Don is not just a world-class fencer who competed for Team USA at two Senior World Championships; he’s also a visionary sports executive, an entrepreneur, and a transformational leader. He’s served as President and Chair of USA Fencing, a Vice President of the FIE, and now leads The Ohio State University’s fencing program as Head Coach. fencing, ncaa, college fencing, college sports false full 70 a1533716-51d1-4bce-b5a9-f4c76523dcf1 Alex Massialas on Continuing to Fence, Coach at Stanford and Push for LA28 Today we have a very special guest — someone who has remained in the top 16 world rankings for men's foil each year since 2012: Alexander Massialas. We'll talk about three big topics:

His own fencing career — how he got started, his Olympic experiences, and what keeps him competing at the highest level.

His new role as a collegiate coach — why he chose this path, what it’s like to coach at Stanford, and advice for young fencers hoping to fence in college.

How he balances it all — competing internationally while also leading one of the country’s most prestigious fencing programs.

And at the end, we’ll wrap up with a fresh round of Quick Hits, where we’ll hit Alex with five fast, quirky questions that’ll put him on the spot in the best way possible.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Alex Massialas, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/alex-massialas-V3zrXSNE Today we have a very special guest — someone who has remained in the top 16 world rankings for men's foil each year since 2012: Alexander Massialas. We'll talk about three big topics:

His own fencing career — how he got started, his Olympic experiences, and what keeps him competing at the highest level.

His new role as a collegiate coach — why he chose this path, what it’s like to coach at Stanford, and advice for young fencers hoping to fence in college.

How he balances it all — competing internationally while also leading one of the country’s most prestigious fencing programs.

And at the end, we’ll wrap up with a fresh round of Quick Hits, where we’ll hit Alex with five fast, quirky questions that’ll put him on the spot in the best way possible.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Alex Massialas on Continuing to Fence, Coach at Stanford and Push for LA28 Alex Massialas, Bryan Wendell 00:47:48 Today we have a very special guest — someone who has remained in the top 16 world rankings for men's foil each year since 2012: Alexander Massialas. A four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist, Alex has made history for Team USA time and again, from his silver and bronze medals in Rio to his key role in winning America’s first-ever men’s foil team world championship in 2019. But his fencing journey isn’t just about his own success — he’s now making an impact as the head coach at his alma mater, Stanford University. Today we have a very special guest — someone who has remained in the top 16 world rankings for men's foil each year since 2012: Alexander Massialas. A four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist, Alex has made history for Team USA time and again, from his silver and bronze medals in Rio to his key role in winning America’s first-ever men’s foil team world championship in 2019. But his fencing journey isn’t just about his own success — he’s now making an impact as the head coach at his alma mater, Stanford University. fencing, sports, olympics false full 69 4bdb39f2-a46d-4790-bc05-0f8a9cfaa15a Jaelyn Liu on Becoming Team USA’s Youngest Senior Women’s Foil World Cup Winner Today we’re talking with one of the most exciting young talents in the sport, Jaelyn Liu. At just 15 years old, Jaelyn has already made history by becoming the youngest U.S. Women’s Foil fencer to win a senior World Cup gold medal, a feat she accomplished in January in Hong Kong. This win came less than a year after she claimed the cadet world championship title in Riyadh, cementing her status as one of fencing’s rising stars.

We’ll talk about Jaelyn’s journey, what it was like to beat some of the best foilists in the world, and her goals for the future. And later, we’ll wrap up with our new segment, Quick Hits, where we ask five rapid-fire questions that are quirky, fun and a little thought-provoking. So stick around for that, and let’s dive in!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jaelyn Liu, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jaelyn-liu-jwp_XYN4 Today we’re talking with one of the most exciting young talents in the sport, Jaelyn Liu. At just 15 years old, Jaelyn has already made history by becoming the youngest U.S. Women’s Foil fencer to win a senior World Cup gold medal, a feat she accomplished in January in Hong Kong. This win came less than a year after she claimed the cadet world championship title in Riyadh, cementing her status as one of fencing’s rising stars.

We’ll talk about Jaelyn’s journey, what it was like to beat some of the best foilists in the world, and her goals for the future. And later, we’ll wrap up with our new segment, Quick Hits, where we ask five rapid-fire questions that are quirky, fun and a little thought-provoking. So stick around for that, and let’s dive in!

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Jaelyn Liu on Becoming Team USA’s Youngest Senior Women’s Foil World Cup Winner Jaelyn Liu, Bryan Wendell 00:31:00 In this episode, we’re talking with one of the most exciting young talents in the sport, Jaelyn Liu. At just 15 years old, Jaelyn has already made history by becoming the youngest U.S. Women’s Foil fencer to win a senior World Cup gold medal, a feat she accomplished in January in Hong Kong. This win came less than a year after she claimed the cadet world championship title in Riyadh, cementing her status as one of fencing’s rising stars. In this episode, we’re talking with one of the most exciting young talents in the sport, Jaelyn Liu. At just 15 years old, Jaelyn has already made history by becoming the youngest U.S. Women’s Foil fencer to win a senior World Cup gold medal, a feat she accomplished in January in Hong Kong. This win came less than a year after she claimed the cadet world championship title in Riyadh, cementing her status as one of fencing’s rising stars. fencing, sports false full 68 34c22df9-ebe7-4163-93d2-08773894a888 The Golden Touch Ep 7 - Lauren Scruggs on Anchoring Team USA to Gold Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we’re talking with Lauren Scruggs, who made her Olympic debut in Paris and walked away with two medals—a silver in the individual event and gold in the team event.

In addition to her Olympic success, Lauren is a standout student-athlete at Harvard University, where she fences under Head Coach Daria Schneider. She’s also been part of the incredible Peter Westbrook Foundation legacy, a program that’s shaped so many of the sport’s top fencers.

Today, we’ll talk about the path to Paris, her performance on the Olympic stage, anchoring Team USA to that gold medal, and life since Aug. 1. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Lauren Scruggs, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-lauren-scruggs-1DFfDPwX Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we’re talking with Lauren Scruggs, who made her Olympic debut in Paris and walked away with two medals—a silver in the individual event and gold in the team event.

In addition to her Olympic success, Lauren is a standout student-athlete at Harvard University, where she fences under Head Coach Daria Schneider. She’s also been part of the incredible Peter Westbrook Foundation legacy, a program that’s shaped so many of the sport’s top fencers.

Today, we’ll talk about the path to Paris, her performance on the Olympic stage, anchoring Team USA to that gold medal, and life since Aug. 1. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 7 - Lauren Scruggs on Anchoring Team USA to Gold Lauren Scruggs, Bryan Wendell 00:27:55 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In this episode, we’re talking with Lauren Scruggs, who made her Olympic debut in Paris and walked away with two medals—a silver in the individual event and gold in the team event. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In this episode, we’re talking with Lauren Scruggs, who made her Olympic debut in Paris and walked away with two medals—a silver in the individual event and gold in the team event. false full 67 c4fc8ea4-a2c0-4faa-85d7-f9cfa02b4edd The Golden Touch Ep 6 - The Cadre, USA Fencing's "Team Behind the Team" Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

In this episode, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes who made it all possible: the cadre, or as we like to call them, the “team behind the team.”

Joining us are four key members of this incredible group:

  • Dagmara Wozniak, a three-time Olympian and the current U.S. Women’s Saber National Team Coach, who served as team captain in Paris.
  • Kate Reisinger, USA Fencing’s Chief of Sport Performance and the team leader in Paris.
  • Liz Morey, the team armorer who ensured the athletes’ equipment was competition-ready.
  • And Dr. Peggy Chin, USA Fencing’s Director of Sport Performance and the primary sports med provider for the team.

The guests also gave special shoutouts to the three other cadre members: Kaitlyn Litten, Adam Thompson and Bryan Wendell.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Dagmara Wozniak, Kate Reisinger, Liz Morey, Peggy Chin, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-ep-6-the-cadre-TsEYkp6N Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

In this episode, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes who made it all possible: the cadre, or as we like to call them, the “team behind the team.”

Joining us are four key members of this incredible group:

  • Dagmara Wozniak, a three-time Olympian and the current U.S. Women’s Saber National Team Coach, who served as team captain in Paris.
  • Kate Reisinger, USA Fencing’s Chief of Sport Performance and the team leader in Paris.
  • Liz Morey, the team armorer who ensured the athletes’ equipment was competition-ready.
  • And Dr. Peggy Chin, USA Fencing’s Director of Sport Performance and the primary sports med provider for the team.

The guests also gave special shoutouts to the three other cadre members: Kaitlyn Litten, Adam Thompson and Bryan Wendell.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 6 - The Cadre, USA Fencing's "Team Behind the Team" Dagmara Wozniak, Kate Reisinger, Liz Morey, Peggy Chin, Bryan Wendell 00:37:59 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In this episode, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes who made it all possible: the cadre, or as we like to call them, the “team behind the team.” Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In this episode, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes who made it all possible: the cadre, or as we like to call them, the “team behind the team.” paris 2024, olympics false full 66 c8695601-2c48-44eb-af80-8a05ff636396 The Golden Touch Ep 5 - The Three Training Partners Who Prepared Team USA for Gold Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

In today’s episode, we’re speaking with the three Women’s Foil training partners who played a pivotal role in Team USA’s historic gold medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, and Stefani Deschner. Let's dive into their unique experiences and how they supported the team to victory. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, Stefani Deschner, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-training-partners-t614_waD Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

In today’s episode, we’re speaking with the three Women’s Foil training partners who played a pivotal role in Team USA’s historic gold medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, and Stefani Deschner. Let's dive into their unique experiences and how they supported the team to victory. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 5 - The Three Training Partners Who Prepared Team USA for Gold Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, Stefani Deschner, Bryan Wendell 00:27:36 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with the three Women’s Foil training partners who played a pivotal role in Team USA’s historic gold medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, and Stefani Deschner. Let's dive into their unique experiences and how they supported the team to victory. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with the three Women’s Foil training partners who played a pivotal role in Team USA’s historic gold medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Zander Rhodes, Katerina Lung, and Stefani Deschner. Let's dive into their unique experiences and how they supported the team to victory. fencing, olympics false full 65 274659e3-4997-4799-b899-def60f36a35f The Golden Touch Ep 4 - Coaches Ralf Bissdorf and Brian Kaneshige Go Behind the Scenes Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Joining us today are the coaches behind that winning effort —  Ralf Bissdorf, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Foil team and an Olympic silver medalist with Germany. And Brian Kaneshige, assistant coach for the team and a powerhouse coach and fencer in his own right.

We’re going to talk about the intense preparation, tactical choices and emotional moments that made this victory possible. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 9 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Brian Kaneshige, Ralf Bissdorf, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-ep-4-coaches-nlH5rahV Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Joining us today are the coaches behind that winning effort —  Ralf Bissdorf, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Foil team and an Olympic silver medalist with Germany. And Brian Kaneshige, assistant coach for the team and a powerhouse coach and fencer in his own right.

We’re going to talk about the intense preparation, tactical choices and emotional moments that made this victory possible. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 4 - Coaches Ralf Bissdorf and Brian Kaneshige Go Behind the Scenes Brian Kaneshige, Ralf Bissdorf, Bryan Wendell 00:58:46 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Joining us today are the coaches behind that winning effort — Ralf Bissdorf, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Foil team and an Olympic silver medalist with Germany. And Brian Kaneshige, assistant coach for the team and a powerhouse coach and fencer in his own right. We’re going to talk about the intense preparation, tactical choices and emotional moments that made this victory possible. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Joining us today are the coaches behind that winning effort — Ralf Bissdorf, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Foil team and an Olympic silver medalist with Germany. And Brian Kaneshige, assistant coach for the team and a powerhouse coach and fencer in his own right. We’re going to talk about the intense preparation, tactical choices and emotional moments that made this victory possible. fencing, olympics false full 64 0d5eab00-f180-4582-bc6c-a5724179be51 The Golden Touch Ep 3 - Maia Weintraub on Clinching Gold as Team USA's Super Sub Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Maia Weintraub, one of Team USA’s shining stars in women’s foil and a key player in the U.S. team's unforgettable Olympic win in Paris 2024. Maia made history not only by stepping into a high-stakes match as a substitute against Italy but also by coming out on top in both her bouts, contributing to a groundbreaking gold medal for Team USA.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 2 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Maia Weintraub, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-maia-weintraub-r8qHyDY0 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Maia Weintraub, one of Team USA’s shining stars in women’s foil and a key player in the U.S. team's unforgettable Olympic win in Paris 2024. Maia made history not only by stepping into a high-stakes match as a substitute against Italy but also by coming out on top in both her bouts, contributing to a groundbreaking gold medal for Team USA.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 3 - Maia Weintraub on Clinching Gold as Team USA's Super Sub Maia Weintraub, Bryan Wendell 00:22:04 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Maia Weintraub, one of Team USA’s shining stars in women’s foil and a key player in the U.S. team's unforgettable Olympic win in Paris 2024. Maia made history not only by stepping into a high-stakes match as a substitute against Italy but also by coming out on top in both her bouts, contributing to a groundbreaking gold medal for Team USA. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Maia Weintraub, one of Team USA’s shining stars in women’s foil and a key player in the U.S. team's unforgettable Olympic win in Paris 2024. Maia made history not only by stepping into a high-stakes match as a substitute against Italy but also by coming out on top in both her bouts, contributing to a groundbreaking gold medal for Team USA. fencing, olympics false full 63 142ec6d0-7ed4-43c6-a6c1-f64e72bb5cb3 The Golden Touch Ep 2 - Jackie Dubrovich on the Joy (and Relief) of Olympic Gold Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we're chatting with two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic champion Jackie Dubrovich, one of the four women of Team USA who earned gold in Paris. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Jackie Dubrovich) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-jackie-dubrovich-lGf7nj8d Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

Today, we're chatting with two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic champion Jackie Dubrovich, one of the four women of Team USA who earned gold in Paris. 

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 2 - Jackie Dubrovich on the Joy (and Relief) of Olympic Gold Bryan Wendell, Jackie Dubrovich 00:39:27 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we're chatting with two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic champion Jackie Dubrovich, one of the four women of Team USA who earned gold in Paris. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we're chatting with two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic champion Jackie Dubrovich, one of the four women of Team USA who earned gold in Paris. fencing, sports, olympics false full 62 9410adb6-daf6-4cbd-9fe4-0f05af0cd3c2 The Golden Touch Ep 1 - Lee Kiefer on the Mountaintop Moment for Women’s Foil Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

The first installment of our miniseries features Lee Kiefer, who is the most decorated women's foil fencer in US history and won two golds in Paris (individual and team) to go with her individual gold in Tokyo.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Lee Kiefer) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/the-golden-touch-lee-kiefer-GoVPug6v Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch.

The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing.

The first installment of our miniseries features Lee Kiefer, who is the most decorated women's foil fencer in US history and won two golds in Paris (individual and team) to go with her individual gold in Tokyo.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> The Golden Touch Ep 1 - Lee Kiefer on the Mountaintop Moment for Women’s Foil Bryan Wendell, Lee Kiefer 00:38:33 Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we have Lee Kiefer, who is the most decorated women's foil fencer in US history and won two golds in Paris to go with her individual gold in Tokyo. Welcome to a special First to 15 miniseries: The Golden Touch. The Golden Touch is a First to 15 miniseries exploring the thrilling journey of Team USA as they secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s team foil at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Join us as we speak to the athletes, their coaches, and key support staff who made history in one of the most unforgettable Olympic moments for USA Fencing. Today, we have Lee Kiefer, who is the most decorated women's foil fencer in US history and won two golds in Paris to go with her individual gold in Tokyo. fencing, paris olympics, olympics false full 61 3acbca57-bc6b-42ed-9e53-ee90ddc1bb84 Valerie Asher on Vet Fencing in Dubai and at National Tournaments In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Asher, chair of USA Fencing’s Veterans Committee and a standout fencer in her own right. Fresh off a silver medal performance in the Veteran Team Women’s Epee event at the 2024 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Dubai, Valerie brings her wealth of experience, insights into veteran fencing, and her passion for growing this important category of the sport.

We’ll be talking about her journey in fencing, the magic behind Team USA’s success in Dubai, and how we can continue to recruit and support veteran fencers.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 4 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Valerie Asher, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/valerie-asher-afhq10Gn In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Asher, chair of USA Fencing’s Veterans Committee and a standout fencer in her own right. Fresh off a silver medal performance in the Veteran Team Women’s Epee event at the 2024 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Dubai, Valerie brings her wealth of experience, insights into veteran fencing, and her passion for growing this important category of the sport.

We’ll be talking about her journey in fencing, the magic behind Team USA’s success in Dubai, and how we can continue to recruit and support veteran fencers.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Valerie Asher on Vet Fencing in Dubai and at National Tournaments Valerie Asher, Bryan Wendell 00:39:56 In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Asher, chair of USA Fencing’s Veterans Committee and a standout fencer in her own right. Fresh off a silver medal performance in the Veteran Team Women’s Epee event at the 2024 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Dubai, Valerie brings her wealth of experience, insights into veteran fencing, and her passion for growing this important category of the sport. We’ll be talking about her journey in fencing, the magic behind Team USA’s success in Dubai, and how we can continue to recruit and support veteran fencers. In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Asher, chair of USA Fencing’s Veterans Committee and a standout fencer in her own right. Fresh off a silver medal performance in the Veteran Team Women’s Epee event at the 2024 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Dubai, Valerie brings her wealth of experience, insights into veteran fencing, and her passion for growing this important category of the sport. We’ll be talking about her journey in fencing, the magic behind Team USA’s success in Dubai, and how we can continue to recruit and support veteran fencers. fencing false full 60 aace72cd-1787-4512-ac1b-a73089feb757 Tori Isaacson, on the Road From Able-Bodied Fencing to the Paris Paralympics In this episode, we’re thrilled to be speaking with Tori Isaacson, one of our remarkable parafencers, who is already in Paris gearing up for the Paralympic Games. This fencing journey started in high school, where Tori was captivated by the sport's strategic and fast-paced nature. Despite facing significant challenges after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Tori has turned to parafencing as a powerful outlet for a natural competitive spirit. 

In addition to being a dedicated athlete, Tori is also a doctor of occupational therapy, specializing in outpatient hand therapy. In this conversation, we chat with Tori about the experience in Paris so far, competition preparation, and what it means to be part of Team USA.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 2 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Tori Isaacson, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/tori-isaacson-a0jz3QRM In this episode, we’re thrilled to be speaking with Tori Isaacson, one of our remarkable parafencers, who is already in Paris gearing up for the Paralympic Games. This fencing journey started in high school, where Tori was captivated by the sport's strategic and fast-paced nature. Despite facing significant challenges after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Tori has turned to parafencing as a powerful outlet for a natural competitive spirit. 

In addition to being a dedicated athlete, Tori is also a doctor of occupational therapy, specializing in outpatient hand therapy. In this conversation, we chat with Tori about the experience in Paris so far, competition preparation, and what it means to be part of Team USA.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Tori Isaacson, on the Road From Able-Bodied Fencing to the Paris Paralympics Tori Isaacson, Bryan Wendell 00:27:26 We’re thrilled to be speaking with Tori Isaacson, one of our remarkable parafencers, who is already in Paris gearing up for the Paralympic Games. We’re thrilled to be speaking with Tori Isaacson, one of our remarkable parafencers, who is already in Paris gearing up for the Paralympic Games. paralympics, parafencing false full 59 b253b9f7-04f3-483a-8c54-b400c435316b Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper on Serving as USA Fencing’s Sports Med Provider for the Paris Paralympics Our guest is Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper! Dr. Jasmine is a highly skilled sports chiropractor who has dedicated her career to helping athletes perform at their best, especially those in adaptive sports. With a deep understanding of biomechanics and injury prevention, she's currently working closely with USA Fencing's Paralympians as they prepare for the Paris Paralympic Games. We're excited to learn more about her role, her approach to athlete care, and her insights on staying competition ready.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Thu, 29 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Dr. Jasmine Piper, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/dr-jasmine-brewster-piper-mOsyGRW4 Our guest is Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper! Dr. Jasmine is a highly skilled sports chiropractor who has dedicated her career to helping athletes perform at their best, especially those in adaptive sports. With a deep understanding of biomechanics and injury prevention, she's currently working closely with USA Fencing's Paralympians as they prepare for the Paris Paralympic Games. We're excited to learn more about her role, her approach to athlete care, and her insights on staying competition ready.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper on Serving as USA Fencing’s Sports Med Provider for the Paris Paralympics Dr. Jasmine Piper, Bryan Wendell 00:23:52 Our guest is Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper who is currently working closely with USA Fencing's Paralympians as they prepare for the Paris Paralympic Games. Our guest is Dr. Jasmine Brewster Piper who is currently working closely with USA Fencing's Paralympians as they prepare for the Paris Paralympic Games. paralympics, fencing, sports, parafencing, sports medicine false full 58 63c8b8ad-688e-4922-b6c3-087cbefbd6b7 Jataya Taylor on Qualifying for the Paralympics Just Two Years After Starting Fencing Jataya's journey to the Paralympics is one of resilience, determination and incredible spirit. A former Marine, Jataya faced significant challenges after sustaining serious injuries during her service, which eventually led to the amputation of her left leg. But that didn't stop her. Encouraged by another military veteran, she discovered fencing and has since become a dedicated competitor in both epee and foil. As she prepares to compete in her first Paralympic Games, we’re going to chat about Jataya’s story, her training regimen, and what it means to represent Team USA on the world stage.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jataya Taylor, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jataya-taylor-eK69nqe9 Jataya's journey to the Paralympics is one of resilience, determination and incredible spirit. A former Marine, Jataya faced significant challenges after sustaining serious injuries during her service, which eventually led to the amputation of her left leg. But that didn't stop her. Encouraged by another military veteran, she discovered fencing and has since become a dedicated competitor in both epee and foil. As she prepares to compete in her first Paralympic Games, we’re going to chat about Jataya’s story, her training regimen, and what it means to represent Team USA on the world stage.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Jataya Taylor on Qualifying for the Paralympics Just Two Years After Starting Fencing Jataya Taylor, Bryan Wendell 00:30:24 Today we have a truly inspiring guest — Jataya Taylor, who is one of six fencers for Team USA at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Today we have a truly inspiring guest — Jataya Taylor, who is one of six fencers for Team USA at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. paralympics, fencing false full 57 0f1cd4be-ab4c-4db7-ac41-4da386009989 Why These High School Students Founded Fencing for a Purpose This special episode features three remarkable high school students: Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, and Alex Wolfe.

Nikhil Khanna is a 10th-grade student from Texas who began fencing at the age of 9. He has achieved impressive national results and co-founded Fencing for a Purpose to introduce more people to the sport and provide opportunities for children with disabilities.

Theodore Tikhomirov, from Chicago, started fencing at 8 years old and has also seen considerable success in national and regional competitions. He is passionate about making fencing accessible and helping fencers who lack resources to compete.

Alex Wolfe, originally from Tampa and now residing in Maryland, began fencing epee at 9. With a strong commitment to community service, Alex co-founded Fencing for a Purpose to raise awareness about fencing and make the sport more inclusive.

Let's hear their story and learn more about their journey and vision for the future.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, Alex Wolfe, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/fencing-for-a-purpose-OAHAJtLc This special episode features three remarkable high school students: Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, and Alex Wolfe.

Nikhil Khanna is a 10th-grade student from Texas who began fencing at the age of 9. He has achieved impressive national results and co-founded Fencing for a Purpose to introduce more people to the sport and provide opportunities for children with disabilities.

Theodore Tikhomirov, from Chicago, started fencing at 8 years old and has also seen considerable success in national and regional competitions. He is passionate about making fencing accessible and helping fencers who lack resources to compete.

Alex Wolfe, originally from Tampa and now residing in Maryland, began fencing epee at 9. With a strong commitment to community service, Alex co-founded Fencing for a Purpose to raise awareness about fencing and make the sport more inclusive.

Let's hear their story and learn more about their journey and vision for the future.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Why These High School Students Founded Fencing for a Purpose Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, Alex Wolfe, Bryan Wendell 00:28:50 Today, we have a special episode featuring three remarkable high school students who founded Fencing for a Purpose: Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, and Alex Wolfe. Let's hear their story and learn more about their journey and vision for the future. Today, we have a special episode featuring three remarkable high school students who founded Fencing for a Purpose: Nikhil Khanna, Theodore Tikhomirov, and Alex Wolfe. Let's hear their story and learn more about their journey and vision for the future. fencing false full 56 1f90eda2-0d68-4c1e-9fec-e1c001a3e877 Dan Berke, Creator of Fencing Time, Goes Behind the Scenes of Tournament Scheduling We're thrilled to be interviewing Dan Berke, the brilliant mind behind Fencing Time Live — a tool that has become indispensable in the world of fencing.

In this episode, Dan will take us on an insightful journey through Fencing Time Live, revealing the untold story behind this powerful system. We'll delve into its functionalities, discuss how it revolutionizes tournament planning, and give you a rare peek behind the scenes of this ubiquitous tool that every fencer relies on but few truly understand: Scheduling.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Dan Berke, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/dan-berke-8b0bdmbE We're thrilled to be interviewing Dan Berke, the brilliant mind behind Fencing Time Live — a tool that has become indispensable in the world of fencing.

In this episode, Dan will take us on an insightful journey through Fencing Time Live, revealing the untold story behind this powerful system. We'll delve into its functionalities, discuss how it revolutionizes tournament planning, and give you a rare peek behind the scenes of this ubiquitous tool that every fencer relies on but few truly understand: Scheduling.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Dan Berke, Creator of Fencing Time, Goes Behind the Scenes of Tournament Scheduling Dan Berke, Bryan Wendell 00:50:31 We're thrilled to be interviewing Dan Berke, the brilliant mind behind Fencing Time Live — a tool that has become indispensable in the world of fencing. In this episode, Dan will take us on an insightful journey through Fencing Time Live, revealing the untold story behind this powerful system. We'll delve into its functionalities, discuss how it revolutionizes tournament planning, and give you a rare peek behind the scenes of this ubiquitous tool that every fencer relies on but few truly understand. Scheduling And there's more! For the first time ever, we're also offering a video version of this episode. You can find the link in the show notes or on the USA Fencing YouTube channel. So, if you're listening, that's great, but you might also want to watch because Dan will be sharing his screen to give you a detailed walkthrough. A bit about our guest: Dan Berke is the creator and developer of the popular Fencing Time tournament management application, widely used by clubs, the FIE, and USA Fencing. Beyond his development work, Dan is a frequent bout committee chair at regional events and an occasional referee. He lives in the Pacific Northwest and competes in foil and épée both locally and at veteran NACs. Does all this while holding down a day job. We're thrilled to be interviewing Dan Berke, the brilliant mind behind Fencing Time Live — a tool that has become indispensable in the world of fencing. In this episode, Dan will take us on an insightful journey through Fencing Time Live, revealing the untold story behind this powerful system. We'll delve into its functionalities, discuss how it revolutionizes tournament planning, and give you a rare peek behind the scenes of this ubiquitous tool that every fencer relies on but few truly understand. Scheduling And there's more! For the first time ever, we're also offering a video version of this episode. You can find the link in the show notes or on the USA Fencing YouTube channel. So, if you're listening, that's great, but you might also want to watch because Dan will be sharing his screen to give you a detailed walkthrough. A bit about our guest: Dan Berke is the creator and developer of the popular Fencing Time tournament management application, widely used by clubs, the FIE, and USA Fencing. Beyond his development work, Dan is a frequent bout committee chair at regional events and an occasional referee. He lives in the Pacific Northwest and competes in foil and épée both locally and at veteran NACs. Does all this while holding down a day job. fencing false full 55 f4d082d8-3a29-442d-8aed-5177b7906844 Anne Cebula on the Three-Year Plan to Making the Olympic Games Our guest is Anne Cebula, an epee fencer who has recently qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Anne's journey from first watching fencing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to becoming a national champion and now an Olympian in the sport is nothing short of inspirational. 

She's navigated the competitive landscape of fencing with grace, strategy and an unwavering love for the sport.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Anne Cebula, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/anne-cebula-laQligTm Our guest is Anne Cebula, an epee fencer who has recently qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Anne's journey from first watching fencing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to becoming a national champion and now an Olympian in the sport is nothing short of inspirational. 

She's navigated the competitive landscape of fencing with grace, strategy and an unwavering love for the sport.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Anne Cebula on the Three-Year Plan to Making the Olympic Games Anne Cebula, Bryan Wendell 00:27:53 Our guest is Anne Cebula, an epee fencer who has qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Anne's journey from first watching fencing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to becoming a national champion and now an Olympian in the sport is nothing short of inspirational. She's navigated the competitive landscape of fencing with grace, strategy and an unwavering love for the sport. Our guest is Anne Cebula, an epee fencer who has qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Anne's journey from first watching fencing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to becoming a national champion and now an Olympian in the sport is nothing short of inspirational. She's navigated the competitive landscape of fencing with grace, strategy and an unwavering love for the sport. fencing, olympics false full 54 e48f4442-3f01-4048-9394-8bdb9a325309 Mitchell Saron on How His Unique Diet and Training Program Led to an Olympic Spot In this episode, recording live at the April NAC, we welcome Mitchell Saron, a Team USA men’s saber athlete, recent Harvard graduate and newly minted member of Team USA for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

 

Mitchell has turned his childhood dream into an Olympic pursuit. He’s also taken an unusual and strategic approach to his diet and training. So let’s ask him about the routines that keep him at the top of his game and explore the Harvard connection that seems to be a hallmark of success in men’s saber.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 27 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Mitchell Saron, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/mitchell-saron-dxgUytdB In this episode, recording live at the April NAC, we welcome Mitchell Saron, a Team USA men’s saber athlete, recent Harvard graduate and newly minted member of Team USA for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

 

Mitchell has turned his childhood dream into an Olympic pursuit. He’s also taken an unusual and strategic approach to his diet and training. So let’s ask him about the routines that keep him at the top of his game and explore the Harvard connection that seems to be a hallmark of success in men’s saber.

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mitchell Saron on How His Unique Diet and Training Program Led to an Olympic Spot Mitchell Saron, Bryan Wendell 00:23:40 In this episode, recording live at the April NAC, we welcome Mitchell Saron, a Team USA men’s saber athlete, recent Harvard graduate and newly minted member of Team USA for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Mitchell has turned his childhood dream into an Olympic pursuit. He’s also taken an unusual and strategic approach to his diet and training. So let’s ask him about the routines that keep him at the top of his game and explore the Harvard connection that seems to be a hallmark of success in men’s saber. In this episode, recording live at the April NAC, we welcome Mitchell Saron, a Team USA men’s saber athlete, recent Harvard graduate and newly minted member of Team USA for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Mitchell has turned his childhood dream into an Olympic pursuit. He’s also taken an unusual and strategic approach to his diet and training. So let’s ask him about the routines that keep him at the top of his game and explore the Harvard connection that seems to be a hallmark of success in men’s saber. fencing, exercise, diet, olympicse false full 53 a7ca06db-84f3-4470-9760-2d75e9641091 Eli Dershwitz on Winning Worlds and How He’s Approaching His Third Olympics Differently Our guest is Eli Dershwitz, the 2023 World Champion who became the first American man to clinch the title in men's saber at Senior Worlds. He also had a legendary college career, with four Ivy League and two NCAA championships under his belt. And now, he's on the path to his third Olympic appearance.

EPISODE NOTES

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Mon, 20 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Eli Dershwitz, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/eli-dershwitz-vVDvanuh Our guest is Eli Dershwitz, the 2023 World Champion who became the first American man to clinch the title in men's saber at Senior Worlds. He also had a legendary college career, with four Ivy League and two NCAA championships under his belt. And now, he's on the path to his third Olympic appearance.

EPISODE NOTES

--

First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

]]> Eli Dershwitz on Winning Worlds and How He’s Approaching His Third Olympics Differently Eli Dershwitz, Bryan Wendell 00:22:08 Eli Dershwitz is the 2023 World Champion, becoming the first American man to clinch the title in men's saber at Senior Worlds. He also had a legendary college career, with four Ivy League and two NCAA championships under his belt. And now, he's on the path to his third Olympic appearance. Eli Dershwitz is the 2023 World Champion, becoming the first American man to clinch the title in men's saber at Senior Worlds. He also had a legendary college career, with four Ivy League and two NCAA championships under his belt. And now, he's on the path to his third Olympic appearance. fencing, olympics false full 52 6ff69f76-094c-492c-9300-89dc38fc6ab0 Elizabeth Tartakovsky on the Journey to Her First Olympic Games
  • Visit the USA Fencing website
  • Follow USA Fencing on Instagram
  • Read a transcript for this episode
  • Follow Elizabeth on Instagram

    • --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 6 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Elizabeth Tartakovsky, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/elizabeth-tartakovsky-bG1THdm1
  • Visit the USA Fencing website
  • Follow USA Fencing on Instagram
  • Read a transcript for this episode
  • Follow Elizabeth on Instagram

    • --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Elizabeth Tartakovsky on the Journey to Her First Olympic Games Elizabeth Tartakovsky, Bryan Wendell 00:33:01 In this episode, we speak with Elizabeth Tartakovsky, an outstanding women’s saber fencer, 2024 Olympian for Team USA, and the 2022 NCAA National Champion in Women’s Saber at Harvard. Elizabeth has achieved remarkable success in the world of fencing with a blend of creativity, strategy, and athleticism that has taken her to the pinnacle of her sport. From her early days getting kicked out of ballet class for chatting too much to standing on podiums at FIE World Cups, Elizabeth's journey is as inspiring as it is unique. In this episode, we speak with Elizabeth Tartakovsky, an outstanding women’s saber fencer, 2024 Olympian for Team USA, and the 2022 NCAA National Champion in Women’s Saber at Harvard. Elizabeth has achieved remarkable success in the world of fencing with a blend of creativity, strategy, and athleticism that has taken her to the pinnacle of her sport. From her early days getting kicked out of ballet class for chatting too much to standing on podiums at FIE World Cups, Elizabeth's journey is as inspiring as it is unique. fencing, olympics false full 51     4c25ec7a-b786-4b8e-b416-acede1df2754 Margherita Guzzi Vincenti on Her Journey from Growing Up in Milan to Representing Team USA the Olympics In this episode, we're joined by Margherita Guzzi Vincenti — a World Cup gold medalist, a dedicated coach at Notre Dame, and now an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/margherita-guzzi-vincenti-AFXV__Hf In this episode, we're joined by Margherita Guzzi Vincenti — a World Cup gold medalist, a dedicated coach at Notre Dame, and now an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Margherita Guzzi Vincenti on Her Journey from Growing Up in Milan to Representing Team USA the Olympics Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, Bryan Wendell 00:31:07 We're joined by Margherita Guzzi Vincenti — a World Cup gold medalist, a dedicated coach at Notre Dame, and now an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024. Margherita embodies the spirit of fencing in every bout, and we’re excited to chat about her journey, her challenges, and the dreams she's turning into reality. We're joined by Margherita Guzzi Vincenti — a World Cup gold medalist, a dedicated coach at Notre Dame, and now an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024. Margherita embodies the spirit of fencing in every bout, and we’re excited to chat about her journey, her challenges, and the dreams she's turning into reality. fencing, olympics false full 50     5b664f3b-f531-4a5a-b082-472a1b8b1b1e Courtney Hurley on Her Growth Across Three Olympic Games Courtney's journey through the world of fencing spans over two decades, showcasing her resilience, skill, and passion for the sport. From her collegiate days at Notre Dame, to her recent coaching role at the University of the Incarnate Word. So much in between Courtney's story is inspiring, it's a story of dedication and success. 

    Today, we're going to talk about that career, and her adventures on and off the strip, and then what life looks like through the eyes of an Olympic medalist. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Courtney Hurley, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/courtney-hurley-VcZp_WRr Courtney's journey through the world of fencing spans over two decades, showcasing her resilience, skill, and passion for the sport. From her collegiate days at Notre Dame, to her recent coaching role at the University of the Incarnate Word. So much in between Courtney's story is inspiring, it's a story of dedication and success. 

    Today, we're going to talk about that career, and her adventures on and off the strip, and then what life looks like through the eyes of an Olympic medalist. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Courtney Hurley on Her Growth Across Three Olympic Games Courtney Hurley, Bryan Wendell 00:32:40 Today's guest is Courtney Hurley, a three time Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist in the women's épée team event at the London 2012 games. Today's guest is Courtney Hurley, a three time Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist in the women's épée team event at the London 2012 games. fencing, olympics false full 49     5e42a973-d54e-468f-a7e9-48f0bd716f71 Nick Itkin on Become World No. 1 and Training for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Our guest is Nick Itkin OLY, fresh off his win at the Absolute Fencing Gear Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.!

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 1 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nick Itkin, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/nick-itkin-VaJKPKG1 Our guest is Nick Itkin OLY, fresh off his win at the Absolute Fencing Gear Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.!

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Nick Itkin on Become World No. 1 and Training for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Nick Itkin, Bryan Wendell 00:24:27 Nick Itkin is an Olympian, an Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time individual World medalist, a two-time NCAA champion at Notre Dame and, most recently, the winner of the FIE Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. Nick Itkin is an Olympian, an Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time individual World medalist, a two-time NCAA champion at Notre Dame and, most recently, the winner of the FIE Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. fencing, sports, olympics false full 48     e71ef5e7-89a4-45b8-beb1-3c33ada47fd0 Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee Chair, Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Running a Tournament Our guest is Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee chair, to talk about the process of running a tournament, how he got into this role, and what people might be interested to know about the behind-the-scenes magic behind USA Fencing tournaments.

    Recorded LIVE at the 2024 Junior Olympics.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:05:49 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Brandon Rochelle, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/brandon-rochelle-gPCgmcu7 Our guest is Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee chair, to talk about the process of running a tournament, how he got into this role, and what people might be interested to know about the behind-the-scenes magic behind USA Fencing tournaments.

    Recorded LIVE at the 2024 Junior Olympics.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee Chair, Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Running a Tournament Brandon Rochelle, Bryan Wendell 00:30:13 Our guest is Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee chair, to talk about the process of running a tournament, how he got into this role, and what people might be interested to know about the behind-the-scenes magic behind USA Fencing tournaments. Our guest is Brandon Rochelle, Tournament Committee chair, to talk about the process of running a tournament, how he got into this role, and what people might be interested to know about the behind-the-scenes magic behind USA Fencing tournaments. false full 47     3dd2538f-fc63-4af5-9116-f0424182ac8a Live from Junior Olympics - The Importance of Women’s Fencing — Why Young Women Should Keep Fencing in College Welcome to a special live episode of "First to 15," the official podcast of USA Fencing. We’re recording this live in front of an audience at the Junior Olympics in Charlotte. Today we have an exciting topic for discussion: "The Importance of Women’s Fencing — Why You Should Keep Fencing in College."

    Let’s get started.

    We’re joined by three exceptional individuals from the world of collegiate fencing: Jennie Salmon, Head Fencing Coach at Temple University; Christine Griffith, Assistant Saber Coach at the Air Force Academy; and Megumi Oishi, a sophomore Saber Fencer at Northwestern University. Each of these women brings a wealth of experience and insight into the world of fencing, and we can't wait to dive into this discussion.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 4 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Christine Griffith, Jennie Salmon, Megumi Oishi, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/wfencing-stFZWR9Q Welcome to a special live episode of "First to 15," the official podcast of USA Fencing. We’re recording this live in front of an audience at the Junior Olympics in Charlotte. Today we have an exciting topic for discussion: "The Importance of Women’s Fencing — Why You Should Keep Fencing in College."

    Let’s get started.

    We’re joined by three exceptional individuals from the world of collegiate fencing: Jennie Salmon, Head Fencing Coach at Temple University; Christine Griffith, Assistant Saber Coach at the Air Force Academy; and Megumi Oishi, a sophomore Saber Fencer at Northwestern University. Each of these women brings a wealth of experience and insight into the world of fencing, and we can't wait to dive into this discussion.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Live from Junior Olympics - The Importance of Women’s Fencing — Why Young Women Should Keep Fencing in College Christine Griffith, Jennie Salmon, Megumi Oishi, Bryan Wendell 00:38:17 In this LIVE episode, we were joined by three exceptional individuals from the world of collegiate fencing: Jennie Salmon, Head Fencing Coach at Temple University; Christine Griffith, Assistant Saber Coach at the Air Force Academy; and Megumi Oishi, a sophomore Saber Fencer at Northwestern University. In this LIVE episode, we were joined by three exceptional individuals from the world of collegiate fencing: Jennie Salmon, Head Fencing Coach at Temple University; Christine Griffith, Assistant Saber Coach at the Air Force Academy; and Megumi Oishi, a sophomore Saber Fencer at Northwestern University. fencing, college sports false full 46     35983bc3-4a77-434c-97c7-ffb16aa901bc Nathan Anderson of Denver Fencing Center on Moving Fencing Beyond 'Niche' Status With a career spanning over several decades, Nathan has left an indelible mark on the fencing world. He started fencing at the age of 15 and has since accumulated more than 30 national medals across all three weapons, including 8 National Gold medals, and has been a 2x National Champion. His accomplishments extend to the international stage, where he was part of the 2014 Pan American Championship-winning team and a 2023 World Team member. I actually got to see him fencer down there in Daytona Beach this past October.

    Beyond his personal achievements, Nathan has been instrumental in nurturing talent at all levels. He has coached National Medalists in every age group in USA Fencing and guided athletes to National Championships in Foil, Epee, and Saber. His expertise has also led to success on the world stage, coaching individual and team world champions.

    In today's episode, we'll explore Nathan's journey in fencing, his vision for the sport, and his unique approach to coaching and mentoring.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 19 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nathan Anderson, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/nathan-anderson-T7qXnNVG With a career spanning over several decades, Nathan has left an indelible mark on the fencing world. He started fencing at the age of 15 and has since accumulated more than 30 national medals across all three weapons, including 8 National Gold medals, and has been a 2x National Champion. His accomplishments extend to the international stage, where he was part of the 2014 Pan American Championship-winning team and a 2023 World Team member. I actually got to see him fencer down there in Daytona Beach this past October.

    Beyond his personal achievements, Nathan has been instrumental in nurturing talent at all levels. He has coached National Medalists in every age group in USA Fencing and guided athletes to National Championships in Foil, Epee, and Saber. His expertise has also led to success on the world stage, coaching individual and team world champions.

    In today's episode, we'll explore Nathan's journey in fencing, his vision for the sport, and his unique approach to coaching and mentoring.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Nathan Anderson of Denver Fencing Center on Moving Fencing Beyond 'Niche' Status Nathan Anderson, Bryan Wendell 00:38:03 Our guest is Nathan Anderson. Nathan is not only the Head Coach and Owner of Denver Fencing Center but also a former member of USA Fencing’s Board of Directors and the current Board Chair of the Denver Fencing Foundation. Our guest is Nathan Anderson. Nathan is not only the Head Coach and Owner of Denver Fencing Center but also a former member of USA Fencing’s Board of Directors and the current Board Chair of the Denver Fencing Foundation. fencing false full 45     8048d790-e1ad-4ace-803c-f092d86c8810 Mary Sola Spohn, Owner of Swordplay LA, on Choreographing Fencing for Hollywood With more than two decades of fencing experience, Mary Sola Spohn has earned multiple national medals and an NCAA Division I fencing scholarship to Northwestern University. Her journey extends beyond the strip, as she's made a significant mark in the world of stunt acting and fight choreography. 

    Mary's expertise in on-screen swords and fencing, paired with her knowledge in various martial arts, including boxing and Filipino Martial Arts, has made her a sought-after trainer for A-List celebrities, Academy Award winners, Olympic athletes, and young stars. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 5 Feb 2024 17:33:20 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Mary Sola Spohn, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/mary-sola-spohn-3a2ALXB1 With more than two decades of fencing experience, Mary Sola Spohn has earned multiple national medals and an NCAA Division I fencing scholarship to Northwestern University. Her journey extends beyond the strip, as she's made a significant mark in the world of stunt acting and fight choreography. 

    Mary's expertise in on-screen swords and fencing, paired with her knowledge in various martial arts, including boxing and Filipino Martial Arts, has made her a sought-after trainer for A-List celebrities, Academy Award winners, Olympic athletes, and young stars. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mary Sola Spohn, Owner of Swordplay LA, on Choreographing Fencing for Hollywood Mary Sola Spohn, Bryan Wendell 00:28:48 Our guest is Mary Sola Spohn, the owner of Swordplay LA, a USA Fencing member club in Burbank, California. In addition to training fencers of all ages and experience levels, Swordplay offers lessons in onscreen/onstage weapons combat and hand-to-hand combat training. Our guest is Mary Sola Spohn, the owner of Swordplay LA, a USA Fencing member club in Burbank, California. In addition to training fencers of all ages and experience levels, Swordplay offers lessons in onscreen/onstage weapons combat and hand-to-hand combat training. false full 44     b79e9ce1-f679-41a9-89de-19b3bd578d66 Jenna Shoman on Junior and Cadet Fencing — and That Perfect Pool Today, we're chatting with a young saber fencer whose name is already gaining recognition within the fencing community. We’re talking about Jenna Shoman, and at just 17 years old, Jenna's achievements are already the stuff of fencing lore. 

    From the Manhattan Fencing Center to the global stage, her dedication to the sport is something to behold. Who could forget the moment at the 2022 Summer Nationals in Minneapolis when Jenna achieved a perfect pool — a staggering 30 touches for and not a single one against?

    Jenna is a member of the 2023 Junior and Cadet World Team and claimed a bronze medal in Cadet Women’s Saber at Junior and Cadet Worlds in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jenna Shoman, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jenna-shoman-gALQJSCH Today, we're chatting with a young saber fencer whose name is already gaining recognition within the fencing community. We’re talking about Jenna Shoman, and at just 17 years old, Jenna's achievements are already the stuff of fencing lore. 

    From the Manhattan Fencing Center to the global stage, her dedication to the sport is something to behold. Who could forget the moment at the 2022 Summer Nationals in Minneapolis when Jenna achieved a perfect pool — a staggering 30 touches for and not a single one against?

    Jenna is a member of the 2023 Junior and Cadet World Team and claimed a bronze medal in Cadet Women’s Saber at Junior and Cadet Worlds in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Jenna Shoman on Junior and Cadet Fencing — and That Perfect Pool Jenna Shoman, Bryan Wendell 00:29:26 Our guest is Jenna Shoman, and at just 17 years old, Jenna's achievements are already the stuff of fencing lore. From the Manhattan Fencing Center to the global stage, her dedication to the sport is something to behold. Our guest is Jenna Shoman, and at just 17 years old, Jenna's achievements are already the stuff of fencing lore. From the Manhattan Fencing Center to the global stage, her dedication to the sport is something to behold. fencing false full 43     30902471-0b2f-4878-9530-05dd4655e257 David Blake on Replay, Streaming and the Hidden Magic Behind USA Fencing Tournaments David is not only a former NCAA athlete and an experienced coach, but he’s also a key figure behind the scenes. If you’ve competed at a national tournament, you’ve probably seen him at the Satellite Bout Committee near the finals strip — often wearing a neon yellow polo. He's a strategic mind in USA Fencing’s Tournament and SEMI Committees, an international referee, and a visionary in integrating technology with fencing. His contributions span from local clubs to the global stage, including the Olympics.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 8 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (David Blake, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/david-blake-WY1TURaT David is not only a former NCAA athlete and an experienced coach, but he’s also a key figure behind the scenes. If you’ve competed at a national tournament, you’ve probably seen him at the Satellite Bout Committee near the finals strip — often wearing a neon yellow polo. He's a strategic mind in USA Fencing’s Tournament and SEMI Committees, an international referee, and a visionary in integrating technology with fencing. His contributions span from local clubs to the global stage, including the Olympics.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     David Blake on Replay, Streaming and the Hidden Magic Behind USA Fencing Tournaments David Blake, Bryan Wendell 00:30:17 In this episode, we're honored to welcome a truly multi-faceted figure in the fencing world, David Blake. From beginning his journey at Concord-Carlisle High School to shaping the future of fencing through his numerous roles at USA Fencing and international tournaments, David's story is unique and rich. In this episode, we're honored to welcome a truly multi-faceted figure in the fencing world, David Blake. From beginning his journey at Concord-Carlisle High School to shaping the future of fencing through his numerous roles at USA Fencing and international tournaments, David's story is unique and rich. fencing, sports, olympics false full 42     aa6095d9-8f4f-40e4-b7f9-d77273328ff0 Jess Davis, 2024 Olympian in Modern Pentathlon, on Training for Five Sports at Once In this episode, we're exceptionally excited to welcome Jess Davis, a modern pentathlete and epee fencer who trains at the New York Athletic Club.

    At the Pan American Games In October in Santiago, Chile, Jess qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in the sport of modern pentathlon, which combines equestrian jumping, fencing, swimming, and the laser run — which is a combo of running and pistol shooting.

    Jess is the reigning national champion in both modern pentathlon and Division I-A Women’s Epee. She got that fencing title this past summer in Phoenix, winning a number of exciting 14-14 bouts on her way to the crown.

    We’re excited to welcome this a seven-time world team member and two-time national pentathlon champion to the podcast.

     

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jess Davis, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jess-davis-Ih8V0CkJ In this episode, we're exceptionally excited to welcome Jess Davis, a modern pentathlete and epee fencer who trains at the New York Athletic Club.

    At the Pan American Games In October in Santiago, Chile, Jess qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in the sport of modern pentathlon, which combines equestrian jumping, fencing, swimming, and the laser run — which is a combo of running and pistol shooting.

    Jess is the reigning national champion in both modern pentathlon and Division I-A Women’s Epee. She got that fencing title this past summer in Phoenix, winning a number of exciting 14-14 bouts on her way to the crown.

    We’re excited to welcome this a seven-time world team member and two-time national pentathlon champion to the podcast.

     

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Jess Davis, 2024 Olympian in Modern Pentathlon, on Training for Five Sports at Once Jess Davis, Bryan Wendell 00:28:17 We're joined by Jess Davis, a modern pentathlete and epee fencer who trains at the New York Athletic Club. At the Pan American Games In October in Santiago, Chile, Jess qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in the sport of modern pentathlon, which combines equestrian jumping, fencing, swimming, and the laser run — which is a combo of running and pistol shooting. We're joined by Jess Davis, a modern pentathlete and epee fencer who trains at the New York Athletic Club. At the Pan American Games In October in Santiago, Chile, Jess qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in the sport of modern pentathlon, which combines equestrian jumping, fencing, swimming, and the laser run — which is a combo of running and pistol shooting. fencing, modern pentathlon, olympics false full 41     82c7cd94-6adc-47a4-ae68-2e62817b93a4 Nathan Jeon, Fencer and Referee, on the Journey to Becoming an FIE Ref We're thrilled to have Nathan Jeon as our guest.

    Nathan is a multi-talented individual in the fencing world, known not only for his skills as a three-weapon fencing referee specializing in foil but also for his notable journey as a fencer and academic. 

    Starting his fencing journey at a young age, Nathan quickly ascended through regional and national rankings, competing both nationally and internationally, and later collegiately at UC San Diego. 

    His dedication to the sport took a turn toward refereeing, where he started nationally in 2018 and recently received his FIE License in Foil. 

    Currently a Ph.D. student at Columbia University, Nathan balances his academic pursuits with a deep involvement in fencing, both as a referee and a fencer at the New York Athletic Club. In this episode, we dive into his experiences, insights, and the passion that drives him in the world of fencing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 4 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nathan Jeon, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/nathan-jeon-udW9by33 We're thrilled to have Nathan Jeon as our guest.

    Nathan is a multi-talented individual in the fencing world, known not only for his skills as a three-weapon fencing referee specializing in foil but also for his notable journey as a fencer and academic. 

    Starting his fencing journey at a young age, Nathan quickly ascended through regional and national rankings, competing both nationally and internationally, and later collegiately at UC San Diego. 

    His dedication to the sport took a turn toward refereeing, where he started nationally in 2018 and recently received his FIE License in Foil. 

    Currently a Ph.D. student at Columbia University, Nathan balances his academic pursuits with a deep involvement in fencing, both as a referee and a fencer at the New York Athletic Club. In this episode, we dive into his experiences, insights, and the passion that drives him in the world of fencing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Nathan Jeon, Fencer and Referee, on the Journey to Becoming an FIE Ref Nathan Jeon, Bryan Wendell 00:37:47 We're joined by Nathan Jeon, known not only for his skills as a three-weapon fencing referee specializing in foil but also for his notable journey as a fencer and academic. We're joined by Nathan Jeon, known not only for his skills as a three-weapon fencing referee specializing in foil but also for his notable journey as a fencer and academic. fencing, sports, olympics false full 40     4dadf95a-17af-4514-aef7-c905d01b5a7c Tierna Oxenreider, Junior Women’s Epee Fencer, on Collegiate Fencing and What She’s Learned Today’s guest is as sharp on the strip as she is in the classroom. At just 19, she has already left her mark on the fencing world and shows no signs of stopping.

    We're joined by Tierna Oxenreider, an epee fencer from Columbus, Ohio, who has dedicated 12 years to mastering the art of fencing. She not only represents the prestigious Columbia University and the New York Athletic Club but also recently added a silver medal to her collection from the 2023 Junior and Cadet Worlds in Bulgaria.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 20 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Tierna Oxenreider, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/tierna-oxenreider-vbpAB21e Today’s guest is as sharp on the strip as she is in the classroom. At just 19, she has already left her mark on the fencing world and shows no signs of stopping.

    We're joined by Tierna Oxenreider, an epee fencer from Columbus, Ohio, who has dedicated 12 years to mastering the art of fencing. She not only represents the prestigious Columbia University and the New York Athletic Club but also recently added a silver medal to her collection from the 2023 Junior and Cadet Worlds in Bulgaria.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Tierna Oxenreider, Junior Women’s Epee Fencer, on Collegiate Fencing and What She’s Learned Tierna Oxenreider, Bryan Wendell 00:30:23 We're joined by Tierna Oxenreider, an epee fencer from Columbus, Ohio, who has dedicated 12 years to mastering the art of fencing. She not only represents the prestigious Columbia University and the New York Athletic Club but also recently added a silver medal to her collection from the 2023 Junior and Cadet Worlds in Bulgaria. We're joined by Tierna Oxenreider, an epee fencer from Columbus, Ohio, who has dedicated 12 years to mastering the art of fencing. She not only represents the prestigious Columbia University and the New York Athletic Club but also recently added a silver medal to her collection from the 2023 Junior and Cadet Worlds in Bulgaria. fencing, usa fencing, olympics false full 39     ac944bf3-0717-4db9-bf27-38e21f2e6314 Nzingha Prescod on Her Path to the Olympics and Founding PISTE Our guest is not only a force on the fencing strip but also a force for change in the community of fencing itself. 

    Nzingha Prescod is a 2-time Olympian, World Champion, and 4-time Senior World Medalist. 

    But that's not all — the Columbia University graduate is also the Founder & CEO of The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork and Education, better known as PISTE. Through PISTE, she's been breaking down barriers and making fencing accessible to hundreds of kids in under-resourced communities. 

    On top of all that, she serves on the Board of Directors of USA Fencing and is a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Council on Social and Racial Justice

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Nzingha Prescod, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/nzingha-prescod-0dwiPS8k Our guest is not only a force on the fencing strip but also a force for change in the community of fencing itself. 

    Nzingha Prescod is a 2-time Olympian, World Champion, and 4-time Senior World Medalist. 

    But that's not all — the Columbia University graduate is also the Founder & CEO of The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork and Education, better known as PISTE. Through PISTE, she's been breaking down barriers and making fencing accessible to hundreds of kids in under-resourced communities. 

    On top of all that, she serves on the Board of Directors of USA Fencing and is a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Council on Social and Racial Justice

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Nzingha Prescod on Her Path to the Olympics and Founding PISTE Nzingha Prescod, Bryan Wendell 00:39:16 Our guest is Nzingha Prescod, a 2-time Olympian, World Champion, 4-time Senior World Medalist and founder of PISTE. Our guest is Nzingha Prescod, a 2-time Olympian, World Champion, 4-time Senior World Medalist and founder of PISTE. fencing, sports, piste, olympics false full 38     edc2269d-7c9c-46c9-8484-f4f3fd9bf938 Julie Seal on Veterans Fencing and the Plan for Vet Worlds We're joined by Julie Seal, a 15-time Individual National Champion, a 2022 Veteran World Champion in Saber, and a two-time Pan American Team Bronze Medalist. 

    She's also a mother of five incredible children — all of whom fence — and even has a son-in-law who fences and referees as well.

    And if that's not enough, she's gearing up to compete in the 2023 FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, starting Oct. 11!

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 9 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Julie Seal, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/julie-seal-i9TxjBsy We're joined by Julie Seal, a 15-time Individual National Champion, a 2022 Veteran World Champion in Saber, and a two-time Pan American Team Bronze Medalist. 

    She's also a mother of five incredible children — all of whom fence — and even has a son-in-law who fences and referees as well.

    And if that's not enough, she's gearing up to compete in the 2023 FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, starting Oct. 11!

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Julie Seal on Veterans Fencing and the Plan for Vet Worlds Julie Seal, Bryan Wendell 00:34:13 Our guest is Julie Seal, a 15-time Individual National Champion, a 2022 Veteran World Champion in Saber, and a two-time Pan American Team Bronze Medalist. Our guest is Julie Seal, a 15-time Individual National Champion, a 2022 Veteran World Champion in Saber, and a two-time Pan American Team Bronze Medalist. fencing, sports, olympics false full 37     49322dcd-7448-41f4-879c-7d513d01b3e9 Akhi Spencer-El on Success in Milan and the Plan for Paris Our guest is Akhi Spencer-El, a USA Fencing Hall of Famer and Team USA’s national weapons coach for men’s saber. Appointed in January 2022, Akhi made history as USA Fencing’s first Black national coach.

    But his accomplishments go far beyond that important milestone. His résumé is teeming with accolades: three-time junior saber national champion, two-time senior saber national champion, former world No. 1 in junior saber, and a 2000 Olympian. 

    He’s also an experienced mentor, having coached at the Pan American Games, Columbia University, and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where he guided a team that included Ibtihaj Muhammad.

    This summer at the 2023 FIE Fencing World Championships, Akhi and the men's saber team achieved their best-ever finish, capturing an individual gold medal for Eli Dershwitz and a team bronze for the U.S.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Akhi Spencer-El, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/akhi-spencer-el-YAk_XtKl Our guest is Akhi Spencer-El, a USA Fencing Hall of Famer and Team USA’s national weapons coach for men’s saber. Appointed in January 2022, Akhi made history as USA Fencing’s first Black national coach.

    But his accomplishments go far beyond that important milestone. His résumé is teeming with accolades: three-time junior saber national champion, two-time senior saber national champion, former world No. 1 in junior saber, and a 2000 Olympian. 

    He’s also an experienced mentor, having coached at the Pan American Games, Columbia University, and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where he guided a team that included Ibtihaj Muhammad.

    This summer at the 2023 FIE Fencing World Championships, Akhi and the men's saber team achieved their best-ever finish, capturing an individual gold medal for Eli Dershwitz and a team bronze for the U.S.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Akhi Spencer-El on Success in Milan and the Plan for Paris Akhi Spencer-El, Bryan Wendell 00:20:22 In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Akhi Spencer-El, a USA Fencing Hall of Famer and Team USA’s national weapons coach for men’s saber. In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Akhi Spencer-El, a USA Fencing Hall of Famer and Team USA’s national weapons coach for men’s saber. fencing, olympics false full 36     d6805c10-dc54-4fed-97db-459ffed050cf Y-14 Fencer Supriya Nair Returns With a Neurofencing Update In this episode, we welcome back to the podcast Supriya Nair, a 14-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center.  

    When we last spoke to Supriya about a year ago, she had just received an award for her groundbreaking experiment, Neurofencing, which explored the importance of pre-bout warm-ups through a neuroscientific lens. Now, we're catching up with Supriya to see how her research has evolved and what new insights she has for us.

    If you missed our first conversation with Supriya last year, you might want to consider listening to Episode 8 to hear how this all got started. But to catch you up, Supriya had always heard from her coaches that pre-bout warmups were important, but wondered if there was any quantitative data to prove it. So she set out to investigate this for herself — using special equipment to test that hypothesis. The result was an award-winning experiment she calls Neurofencing.

    Now she’s back with even more data and insights. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 11 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/supriya-nair-2-6ZecS_vs In this episode, we welcome back to the podcast Supriya Nair, a 14-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center.  

    When we last spoke to Supriya about a year ago, she had just received an award for her groundbreaking experiment, Neurofencing, which explored the importance of pre-bout warm-ups through a neuroscientific lens. Now, we're catching up with Supriya to see how her research has evolved and what new insights she has for us.

    If you missed our first conversation with Supriya last year, you might want to consider listening to Episode 8 to hear how this all got started. But to catch you up, Supriya had always heard from her coaches that pre-bout warmups were important, but wondered if there was any quantitative data to prove it. So she set out to investigate this for herself — using special equipment to test that hypothesis. The result was an award-winning experiment she calls Neurofencing.

    Now she’s back with even more data and insights. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Y-14 Fencer Supriya Nair Returns With a Neurofencing Update Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell 00:23:02 We welcome back to the podcast Supriya Nair, a 14-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center. When we last spoke to Supriya about a year ago, she had just received an award for her groundbreaking experiment, Neurofencing, which explored the importance of pre-bout warm-ups through a neuroscientific lens. Now, we're catching up with Supriya to see how her research has evolved and what new insights she has for us. We welcome back to the podcast Supriya Nair, a 14-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center. When we last spoke to Supriya about a year ago, she had just received an award for her groundbreaking experiment, Neurofencing, which explored the importance of pre-bout warm-ups through a neuroscientific lens. Now, we're catching up with Supriya to see how her research has evolved and what new insights she has for us. paralympics, fencing, olympics, neurofencing false full 35     df896cf2-1613-4a57-b164-d57fd13236b5 Emersyn Runions, 16-year-old Epee Fencer, on Starting a Fencing Camp for Kids With Cerebral Palsy Today’s guest is a true difference-maker in the fencing world — someone who has not only made impressive strides in the sport but is using her passion to break barriers and make fencing accessible to all. 

    Meet Emersyn Runions, a 16-year-old A-rated epee fencer who has been honing her skills for the past 7 years at a number of different clubs, including her current club — the Pegasus Sword Academy in Dallas, Texas. 

    Emersyn is a two-time All American and All Academic First Team member and a member of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Cadet National Team. Beyond her phenomenal fencing achievements, Emersyn has poured her heart into community service. She has worked with multiple organizations like Best Buddies, Kidnetic Games, Special Olympics, Friday Nite Friends and more.

    What sets her apart? Emersyn recently planned, developed and executed a 6-week adapted fencing camp for children with cerebral palsy. A part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which she called "Fencing for All," she's made it her mission to bring fencing to children of all physical abilities and hopes to introduce fencing into the Special Olympics one day. 

    Let's learn more about this inspiring young woman's journey, her work, and her vision for the future of fencing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Emersyn Runions, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/emersyn-runions-Ut_okKkp Today’s guest is a true difference-maker in the fencing world — someone who has not only made impressive strides in the sport but is using her passion to break barriers and make fencing accessible to all. 

    Meet Emersyn Runions, a 16-year-old A-rated epee fencer who has been honing her skills for the past 7 years at a number of different clubs, including her current club — the Pegasus Sword Academy in Dallas, Texas. 

    Emersyn is a two-time All American and All Academic First Team member and a member of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Cadet National Team. Beyond her phenomenal fencing achievements, Emersyn has poured her heart into community service. She has worked with multiple organizations like Best Buddies, Kidnetic Games, Special Olympics, Friday Nite Friends and more.

    What sets her apart? Emersyn recently planned, developed and executed a 6-week adapted fencing camp for children with cerebral palsy. A part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which she called "Fencing for All," she's made it her mission to bring fencing to children of all physical abilities and hopes to introduce fencing into the Special Olympics one day. 

    Let's learn more about this inspiring young woman's journey, her work, and her vision for the future of fencing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Emersyn Runions, 16-year-old Epee Fencer, on Starting a Fencing Camp for Kids With Cerebral Palsy Emersyn Runions, Bryan Wendell 00:22:05 Today’s guest is Emersyn Runions, a 16-year-old A-rated epee fencer who has been honing her skills for the past 7 years at a number of different clubs, including her current club — the Pegasus Sword Academy in Dallas, Texas. Today’s guest is Emersyn Runions, a 16-year-old A-rated epee fencer who has been honing her skills for the past 7 years at a number of different clubs, including her current club — the Pegasus Sword Academy in Dallas, Texas. fencing, sports, olympics false full 34     35fcda2b-9c75-430b-a6dd-2ba4db790c71 Maggie Dull Takes Us Inside the Bout Committee In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Maggie Dull. Maggie is an integral part of our fencing community, serving as one of the chairs of the Bout Committee at USA Fencing national tournaments, including right here at Summer Nationals. But Maggie's contribution to the sport stretches far beyond the Bout Committee alone.

    Starting her fencing journey as a walk-on for Vassar College's varsity team in her senior year, Maggie quickly found her niche in the organizational side of the sport. She has served in roles from Oregon Division secretary to managing local and regional tournaments for the Maryland Division and several clubs. Since 2013, she has been a key figure in the National Bout Committee, stepping up as chair in 2014.

    But that's not all. Maggie currently holds positions on USA Fencing's Tournament Committee, serves as the chair of the Black Card Review Group, and reads for the annual Absolute Fencing Gear All-American Team scholarship essays. She also leads the Western New York Division as their division chair.

    Outside of fencing, Maggie brings her organizational prowess to the academic world, currently serving as the Director of Metadata Strategies and Interim Director of Digital Initiatives at the University of Rochester's River Campus Libraries. Come July 17, she'll step into a new role as Interim Assistant Dean of Scholarly Curation and Resources. In addition to all this, she also lectures for the University of Maryland's Master of Library and Information Science program.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Maggie Dull, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/maggie-dull-u2il8HA0 In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Maggie Dull. Maggie is an integral part of our fencing community, serving as one of the chairs of the Bout Committee at USA Fencing national tournaments, including right here at Summer Nationals. But Maggie's contribution to the sport stretches far beyond the Bout Committee alone.

    Starting her fencing journey as a walk-on for Vassar College's varsity team in her senior year, Maggie quickly found her niche in the organizational side of the sport. She has served in roles from Oregon Division secretary to managing local and regional tournaments for the Maryland Division and several clubs. Since 2013, she has been a key figure in the National Bout Committee, stepping up as chair in 2014.

    But that's not all. Maggie currently holds positions on USA Fencing's Tournament Committee, serves as the chair of the Black Card Review Group, and reads for the annual Absolute Fencing Gear All-American Team scholarship essays. She also leads the Western New York Division as their division chair.

    Outside of fencing, Maggie brings her organizational prowess to the academic world, currently serving as the Director of Metadata Strategies and Interim Director of Digital Initiatives at the University of Rochester's River Campus Libraries. Come July 17, she'll step into a new role as Interim Assistant Dean of Scholarly Curation and Resources. In addition to all this, she also lectures for the University of Maryland's Master of Library and Information Science program.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Maggie Dull Takes Us Inside the Bout Committee Maggie Dull, Bryan Wendell 00:24:53 Today we’re going behind the scenes in the Bout Committee with a very special guest, Maggie Dull. Today we’re going behind the scenes in the Bout Committee with a very special guest, Maggie Dull. fencing, bout committee, usa fencing, olympics false full 33     36acee13-c3df-4e35-8991-5ba0f1121109 Matt Tucker on Refereeing and Whether We'll Ever See a Robot Ref In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Matt Tucker, a referee and soon-to-be veteran fencer from Boston who specializes in saber and foil but referees all three weapons.

    Matt started refereeing nationally in 2016 and moved up the refereeing ranks quickly. He’s now an early career FIE ref.

    On top of all that, he’s a Data Scientist for Amazon's Alexa organization and married to a fellow national-level fencing referee, Bern Samko. We’re excited to chat with Matt Tucker today about his fencing journey, his ascent as a national and then international referee and his thoughts about the role technology might play in our sport in the future.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 24 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Matt Tucker, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/matt-tucker-BR0KPgTT In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Matt Tucker, a referee and soon-to-be veteran fencer from Boston who specializes in saber and foil but referees all three weapons.

    Matt started refereeing nationally in 2016 and moved up the refereeing ranks quickly. He’s now an early career FIE ref.

    On top of all that, he’s a Data Scientist for Amazon's Alexa organization and married to a fellow national-level fencing referee, Bern Samko. We’re excited to chat with Matt Tucker today about his fencing journey, his ascent as a national and then international referee and his thoughts about the role technology might play in our sport in the future.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Matt Tucker on Refereeing and Whether We'll Ever See a Robot Ref Matt Tucker, Bryan Wendell 00:35:28 Our guest is Matt Tucker, a referee and soon-to-be veteran fencer from Boston who specializes in saber and foil but referees all three weapons. Our guest is Matt Tucker, a referee and soon-to-be veteran fencer from Boston who specializes in saber and foil but referees all three weapons. fencing, sports, refereering, olympics false full 32     d7031328-1274-4511-b5ae-bf53d66fb5da Olympian Jackie Dubrovich on Her Mental and Physical Game and the Road to Paris In this episode, we're thrilled to be talking with none other than Jackie Dubrovich, 2020 Tokyo Olympian and a standout star in women's foil. Jackie, hailing from the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, is a seasoned competitor in the world of fencing and is currently ranked 17th in the world in women’s foil.

    We’re recording this live at Summer Nationals in Phoenix, where Jackie and her women’s foil teammates are doing a training camp in part to prepare for the World Championships in Milan, Italy.

    This will be Jackie’s fourth Senior World Team, but her impressive track record goes back more than a decade — including three team silver medals and one gold at the Junior/Cadet World Championships, a team bronze at the 2019 Senior World Championships, and a team silver at the 2022 Senior World Championships in Cairo.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jackie Dubrovich, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jackie-dubrovich-rXaReRWd In this episode, we're thrilled to be talking with none other than Jackie Dubrovich, 2020 Tokyo Olympian and a standout star in women's foil. Jackie, hailing from the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, is a seasoned competitor in the world of fencing and is currently ranked 17th in the world in women’s foil.

    We’re recording this live at Summer Nationals in Phoenix, where Jackie and her women’s foil teammates are doing a training camp in part to prepare for the World Championships in Milan, Italy.

    This will be Jackie’s fourth Senior World Team, but her impressive track record goes back more than a decade — including three team silver medals and one gold at the Junior/Cadet World Championships, a team bronze at the 2019 Senior World Championships, and a team silver at the 2022 Senior World Championships in Cairo.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Olympian Jackie Dubrovich on Her Mental and Physical Game and the Road to Paris Jackie Dubrovich, Bryan Wendell 00:25:49 In this episode, we're thrilled to be talking with none other than Jackie Dubrovich, 2020 Tokyo Olympian and a standout star in women's foil. Jackie, hailing from the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, is a seasoned competitor in the world of fencing and is currently ranked 17th in the world in women’s foil. We’re recording this live at Summer Nationals in Phoenix, where Jackie and her women’s foil teammates are doing a training camp in part to prepare for the World Championships in Milan, Italy. This will be Jackie’s fourth Senior World Team, but her impressive track record goes back more than a decade — including three team silver medals and one gold at the Junior/Cadet World Championships, a team bronze at the 2019 Senior World Championships, and a team silver at the 2022 Senior World Championships in Cairo. In this episode, we're thrilled to be talking with none other than Jackie Dubrovich, 2020 Tokyo Olympian and a standout star in women's foil. Jackie, hailing from the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, is a seasoned competitor in the world of fencing and is currently ranked 17th in the world in women’s foil. We’re recording this live at Summer Nationals in Phoenix, where Jackie and her women’s foil teammates are doing a training camp in part to prepare for the World Championships in Milan, Italy. This will be Jackie’s fourth Senior World Team, but her impressive track record goes back more than a decade — including three team silver medals and one gold at the Junior/Cadet World Championships, a team bronze at the 2019 Senior World Championships, and a team silver at the 2022 Senior World Championships in Cairo. fencing, olympics false full 31     809c7139-b33d-45d9-a2f2-06182a996a08 Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, Psychologist and Fencing Parent, on Impostor Syndrome and Upping a Fencer’s Mental Game Today we're diving into the mental side of the sport, focusing on a common yet often overlooked struggle: impostor syndrome.

    We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and renowned executive coach, who's made tremendous strides in tackling impostor syndrome, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective communication within various organizations and educational institutions.

    The author of two insightful books, 'Own Your Greatness' and 'Your Unstoppable Greatness,' she’s an expert in overcoming impostor syndrome and navigating toxic or unsupportive work cultures.

    In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Orbe-Austin also brings a unique perspective to our discussion today - she's a parent to two budding fencers. Let's delve into her rich professional insights and her firsthand experiences from the fencing world. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/dr-lisa-orbe-austin-xlu9kkgJ Today we're diving into the mental side of the sport, focusing on a common yet often overlooked struggle: impostor syndrome.

    We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and renowned executive coach, who's made tremendous strides in tackling impostor syndrome, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective communication within various organizations and educational institutions.

    The author of two insightful books, 'Own Your Greatness' and 'Your Unstoppable Greatness,' she’s an expert in overcoming impostor syndrome and navigating toxic or unsupportive work cultures.

    In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Orbe-Austin also brings a unique perspective to our discussion today - she's a parent to two budding fencers. Let's delve into her rich professional insights and her firsthand experiences from the fencing world. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, Psychologist and Fencing Parent, on Impostor Syndrome and Upping a Fencer’s Mental Game Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, Bryan Wendell 00:32:14 Today we're diving into the mental side of the sport, focusing on a common yet often overlooked struggle: impostor syndrome. We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and renowned executive coach, who's made tremendous strides in tackling impostor syndrome, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective communication within various organizations and educational institutions. Today we're diving into the mental side of the sport, focusing on a common yet often overlooked struggle: impostor syndrome. We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and renowned executive coach, who's made tremendous strides in tackling impostor syndrome, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective communication within various organizations and educational institutions. fencing, parenting, olympics false full 30     21718bd0-b660-4ca1-b715-2791395a60d8 Megumi Oishi, Saber Fencer at Northwestern, on Body Positivity and Fencing In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Megumi Oishi, a student-athlete at Northwestern University, founder of The Athlete Narrative, and an advocate for body positivity in fencing and beyond. 

    Megumi has been fencing for 10 years, is a 16-time national medalist, a one-time international medalist, and was one of just 24 fencers who qualified for the NCAA Championships in women’s saber where she became an All-American. 

    She's the Saber Newcomer of the Year awardee from the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and her team’s MVP with the most regular-season wins. 

    On top of all this, she's making waves through her research and advocacy work around athlete body negativity.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Megumi Oishi, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/megumi-oishi-X6dAiScL In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Megumi Oishi, a student-athlete at Northwestern University, founder of The Athlete Narrative, and an advocate for body positivity in fencing and beyond. 

    Megumi has been fencing for 10 years, is a 16-time national medalist, a one-time international medalist, and was one of just 24 fencers who qualified for the NCAA Championships in women’s saber where she became an All-American. 

    She's the Saber Newcomer of the Year awardee from the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and her team’s MVP with the most regular-season wins. 

    On top of all this, she's making waves through her research and advocacy work around athlete body negativity.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Megumi Oishi, Saber Fencer at Northwestern, on Body Positivity and Fencing Megumi Oishi, Bryan Wendell 00:33:56 Our guest is Megumi Oishi, a student-athlete at Northwestern University, founder of The Athlete Narrative, and an advocate for body positivity in fencing and beyond. Our guest is Megumi Oishi, a student-athlete at Northwestern University, founder of The Athlete Narrative, and an advocate for body positivity in fencing and beyond. fencing, body positivity, olympics false full 29     0d29e75e-e8bd-4888-beba-87c074387b92 Georgina Love on Vet Fencing and the Journey to Vet Worlds in Daytona Beach In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Georgina Love, a foil and epee fencer from Central Florida. Georgina, who is fondly known as George, recently showcased her tenacity at the North American Cup in St. Louis in April 2023, where she won gold medals in both the Vet-60 Women's Foil and the Vet-60 Women's Epee events. In a thrilling final foil bout, George turned an early 5-0 deficit into a 10-9 victory, triumphing over the reigning World Champion.

    George's journey to the pinnacle of the fencing world has been anything but conventional. Her passion for the sport was ignited in 2001 when she discovered a local rec center fencing class in Fort Pierce, Florida. For seven years, she honed her skills there until the program was shuttered. However, her dedication to the sport remained unscathed, and she kept pushing her boundaries, competing in tournaments and embracing the thrill of competition.

    In 2015, she took over her local fencing club, ensuring the survival of the sport in her area, and around seven years ago, she began training with Coach Daniel Bucur in Melbourne, Florida. This partnership has led her to new heights in the fencing world, deepening her understanding and enjoyment of the sport.

    Apart from being a fencer, George is a woman of many talents. She's an oil painter who teaches classes, a horse rider, and a museum worker who installs exhibits. In this episode, we're going to delve into the multifaceted life and career of this extraordinary fencer.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

     

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 29 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Georgina Love, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/georgina-love-No_z5o5a In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Georgina Love, a foil and epee fencer from Central Florida. Georgina, who is fondly known as George, recently showcased her tenacity at the North American Cup in St. Louis in April 2023, where she won gold medals in both the Vet-60 Women's Foil and the Vet-60 Women's Epee events. In a thrilling final foil bout, George turned an early 5-0 deficit into a 10-9 victory, triumphing over the reigning World Champion.

    George's journey to the pinnacle of the fencing world has been anything but conventional. Her passion for the sport was ignited in 2001 when she discovered a local rec center fencing class in Fort Pierce, Florida. For seven years, she honed her skills there until the program was shuttered. However, her dedication to the sport remained unscathed, and she kept pushing her boundaries, competing in tournaments and embracing the thrill of competition.

    In 2015, she took over her local fencing club, ensuring the survival of the sport in her area, and around seven years ago, she began training with Coach Daniel Bucur in Melbourne, Florida. This partnership has led her to new heights in the fencing world, deepening her understanding and enjoyment of the sport.

    Apart from being a fencer, George is a woman of many talents. She's an oil painter who teaches classes, a horse rider, and a museum worker who installs exhibits. In this episode, we're going to delve into the multifaceted life and career of this extraordinary fencer.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

     

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Georgina Love on Vet Fencing and the Journey to Vet Worlds in Daytona Beach Georgina Love, Bryan Wendell 00:37:18 Our guest is Georgina Love, a foil and epee veteran fencer from Central Florida. Our guest is Georgina Love, a foil and epee veteran fencer from Central Florida. fencing, veteran fencing, olympics false full 28     d2ee6ae0-8426-44ea-ae93-0b33a069c7c7 Ralf Bissdorf, Women’s Foil Team National Coach, on the Road to Paris In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Ralf Bissdorf, the Women’s Foil National Coach for Team USA!

    Ralf is a two-time Olympian with Team Germany, a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and spent more than 500 days ranked as the No. 1 men’s foil fencer in the world.  

    In 2001, he was awarded the Silver Laurel of the Federal Republic of Germany — the highest award for a sportsperson in Germany.

    Then he shifted to coaching and has been just as successful there — considered by many to be a mastermind in the coaching field.  

    We'll be talking about his journey, his goals for Team USA and his insights into the sport.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 15 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Ralf Bissdorf, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/ralf-bissdorf-GPzJ8CAs In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Ralf Bissdorf, the Women’s Foil National Coach for Team USA!

    Ralf is a two-time Olympian with Team Germany, a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and spent more than 500 days ranked as the No. 1 men’s foil fencer in the world.  

    In 2001, he was awarded the Silver Laurel of the Federal Republic of Germany — the highest award for a sportsperson in Germany.

    Then he shifted to coaching and has been just as successful there — considered by many to be a mastermind in the coaching field.  

    We'll be talking about his journey, his goals for Team USA and his insights into the sport.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Ralf Bissdorf, Women’s Foil Team National Coach, on the Road to Paris Ralf Bissdorf, Bryan Wendell 00:42:47 Our guest is Ralf Bissdorf, the Women’s Foil National Coach for Team USA. Our guest is Ralf Bissdorf, the Women’s Foil National Coach for Team USA. fencing, foil, olympics false full 27     722325c6-e73e-457c-b7ec-71a12c34d5c1 Daria Schneider on Harvard Fencing and Her Role on the USOPC Board In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Daria Schneider, head coach of the women’s and men’s fencing programs at Harvard University. Schneider took the helm at Harvard in 2019 and immediately led the Crimson to a men’s Ivy League championship in her first season.  

    Before Harvard, she was the head coach at Cornell and assistant coach at Columbia.  

    And before coaching, Schneider was, as you might guess, a successful saber fencer in her own right. She was the 2007 NCAA champion at Columbia, the 2011 national champion and a two-time bronze medalist at the Senior World Championships.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 1 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Daria Schneider, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/daria-schneider-bQrYFMBX In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Daria Schneider, head coach of the women’s and men’s fencing programs at Harvard University. Schneider took the helm at Harvard in 2019 and immediately led the Crimson to a men’s Ivy League championship in her first season.  

    Before Harvard, she was the head coach at Cornell and assistant coach at Columbia.  

    And before coaching, Schneider was, as you might guess, a successful saber fencer in her own right. She was the 2007 NCAA champion at Columbia, the 2011 national champion and a two-time bronze medalist at the Senior World Championships.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Daria Schneider on Harvard Fencing and Her Role on the USOPC Board Daria Schneider, Bryan Wendell 00:39:49 Our guest is Daria Schneider, head coach of the women’s and men’s fencing programs at Harvard University. Our guest is Daria Schneider, head coach of the women’s and men’s fencing programs at Harvard University. fencing, sports, college, harvard, olympics false full 26     ff1a4eee-2a9e-4d94-ba93-5526eaeba4b6 Arya Chavan, 13-Year-Old Saber Fencer from Massachusetts, on Her Journey So Far In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts, who has already achieved junior national points and won a silver medal in her first cadet team event.  

    Get ready to be inspired as we discuss her journey, challenges, and aspirations in fencing, as well as her dedication to her education and other interests.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:05:06 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Arya Chavan, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/arya-chavan-r_BPeraT In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts, who has already achieved junior national points and won a silver medal in her first cadet team event.  

    Get ready to be inspired as we discuss her journey, challenges, and aspirations in fencing, as well as her dedication to her education and other interests.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Arya Chavan, 13-Year-Old Saber Fencer from Massachusetts, on Her Journey So Far Arya Chavan, Bryan Wendell 00:17:15 Our guest is Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts. Our guest is Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts. fencing, sports false full 25     f54d15ee-5c65-4ac3-896e-07d42d8fdf53 Zach Moss, Northwestern Fencing Head Coach, on the Magic of Collegiate Fencing In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Zach Moss, who has been the head coach of the Northwestern fencing program since 2016. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have achieved national recognition and consistent success, including a program-best third place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2021.  

    In this conversation, we dive into the world of collegiate fencing and learn more about Coach Moss's journey and his insights on coaching and the sport of fencing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:40:28 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Zach Moss, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/zach-moss-wIu8BmkS In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Zach Moss, who has been the head coach of the Northwestern fencing program since 2016. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have achieved national recognition and consistent success, including a program-best third place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2021.  

    In this conversation, we dive into the world of collegiate fencing and learn more about Coach Moss's journey and his insights on coaching and the sport of fencing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Zach Moss, Northwestern Fencing Head Coach, on the Magic of Collegiate Fencing Zach Moss, Bryan Wendell 00:36:22 Our guest is Zach Moss, head coach of the Northwestern fencing program since 2016. Our guest is Zach Moss, head coach of the Northwestern fencing program since 2016. fencing, northwestern, sports, olympics false full 24     efbcca48-e2f9-406e-bec2-cbb330998db9 Ana Irene Delgado of the FIE Executive Committee on “Fencing for the Planet” In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Ana Irene Delgado, a member of the Executive Committee of the FIE, the International Fencing Federation.

    Delgado hails from Panama and has fenced for the Central American nation at FIE World Cups as well as the Central American and Caribbean Games.

    Among her many volunteer roles, Delgado leads the working group known as “Fencing for the Planet.” Her passions include protecting the environment, empowering women and expanding access to sports.

    She’s also a Panamanian lawyer, diplomat and politician and was the youngest Panamanian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Iceland.

    We chat with Delgado about her fencing journey, how fencing differs in Latin America and the genesis of the "Fencing for the Planet" program.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Ana Irene Delgado, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/ana-irene-delgado-IabdiEll In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Ana Irene Delgado, a member of the Executive Committee of the FIE, the International Fencing Federation.

    Delgado hails from Panama and has fenced for the Central American nation at FIE World Cups as well as the Central American and Caribbean Games.

    Among her many volunteer roles, Delgado leads the working group known as “Fencing for the Planet.” Her passions include protecting the environment, empowering women and expanding access to sports.

    She’s also a Panamanian lawyer, diplomat and politician and was the youngest Panamanian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Iceland.

    We chat with Delgado about her fencing journey, how fencing differs in Latin America and the genesis of the "Fencing for the Planet" program.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Ana Irene Delgado of the FIE Executive Committee on “Fencing for the Planet” Ana Irene Delgado, Bryan Wendell 00:39:46 Our guest is Ana Irene Delgado, a member of the Executive Committee of the FIE, the International Fencing Federation. Our guest is Ana Irene Delgado, a member of the Executive Committee of the FIE, the International Fencing Federation. fencing, sustainability, fie, olympics false full 23     67eaa494-acaa-439c-a4dd-08acdc941c3d Philippe Bennett on Veteran Fencing and Where the Sport Should Innovate Next In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Philippe Bennett, a veteran foil fencer and member of the Fencers Club in New York — a storied fencing club located right next to the Empire State Building. 

    He’s been a member there for nearly 50 years and currently serves as its Chair. He has represented Team USA at the Veteran World Championship six times, at the Pan American Veteran Championship three times and has won medals in Vet events at North American Cups too many times to count.

    In addition to being an active fencer and an intellectual property litigation lawyer, Philippe started the company Radical Fencing to help our sport benefit from new technologies. 

    In this conversation, we talk about all that and more with Philippe. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Philippe Bennett, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/philippe-bennett-iq_R2L8N In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Philippe Bennett, a veteran foil fencer and member of the Fencers Club in New York — a storied fencing club located right next to the Empire State Building. 

    He’s been a member there for nearly 50 years and currently serves as its Chair. He has represented Team USA at the Veteran World Championship six times, at the Pan American Veteran Championship three times and has won medals in Vet events at North American Cups too many times to count.

    In addition to being an active fencer and an intellectual property litigation lawyer, Philippe started the company Radical Fencing to help our sport benefit from new technologies. 

    In this conversation, we talk about all that and more with Philippe. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Philippe Bennett on Veteran Fencing and Where the Sport Should Innovate Next Philippe Bennett, Bryan Wendell 00:33:56 Our guest is Philippe Bennett, a veteran foil fencer and fencing inventor who lives in New York City. Our guest is Philippe Bennett, a veteran foil fencer and fencing inventor who lives in New York City. fencing, sports, fencers club, olympics, foil fencing false full 22     4fe62f7e-607e-4229-a545-a72c23b036d6 Aleks Ochocki, Team USA's Women’s Saber National Coach, on the Future of Women’s Saber In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Aleks Ochocki, Team USA’s women’s saber national coach.

    Before taking the reins of our talented women’s saber program, Aleks was the assistant saber coach at Notre Dame, where he coached multiple team and individual NCAA champions.  

    Aleks is also the head coach and founder of the Advance Fencing and Fitness Academy in New Jersey.  

    And we haven’t even talked about his career as a fencer. As an athlete, Aleks won a national title in every age group starting from Youth-12 all the way through seniors.  

    He’s a proud Nittany Lion, having graduated from Penn State, where he won the NCAA Individual Saber Championship in 2009 and 2012.  

    In this conversation, we ask Aleks about his career so far, his advice for saber fencers and where he sees our women’s saber program going in the next several years.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 13 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Aleks Ochocki, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/aleks-ochocki-QbPlChKH In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Aleks Ochocki, Team USA’s women’s saber national coach.

    Before taking the reins of our talented women’s saber program, Aleks was the assistant saber coach at Notre Dame, where he coached multiple team and individual NCAA champions.  

    Aleks is also the head coach and founder of the Advance Fencing and Fitness Academy in New Jersey.  

    And we haven’t even talked about his career as a fencer. As an athlete, Aleks won a national title in every age group starting from Youth-12 all the way through seniors.  

    He’s a proud Nittany Lion, having graduated from Penn State, where he won the NCAA Individual Saber Championship in 2009 and 2012.  

    In this conversation, we ask Aleks about his career so far, his advice for saber fencers and where he sees our women’s saber program going in the next several years.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Aleks Ochocki, Team USA's Women’s Saber National Coach, on the Future of Women’s Saber Aleks Ochocki, Bryan Wendell 00:36:29 Our guest is Aleks Ochocki, Team USA’s women’s saber national coach! Our guest is Aleks Ochocki, Team USA’s women’s saber national coach! fencing, saber, usa fencing, olympics false full 21     488ddf66-f6f1-4b1e-93aa-3c9d47492c85 Jen Oldham on Coaching and Overcoming Obstacles Facing Women Fencing Professionals In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Jen Oldham, a fencing coach, innovator and pioneer of the women’s saber program in the United States.  

    Oldham is a successful saber fencer, having competed for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the international level with several top 32 finishes and a bronze team medal.  

    She has parlayed that experience in many ways, including as a coach — she’s currently a three-weapon fencing master with Forge Fencing in Durham, North Carolina — and also as an advocate for increasing the diversity, unity and equity within fencing.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 30 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Jen Oldham, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jen-oldham-HI89px0Q In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Jen Oldham, a fencing coach, innovator and pioneer of the women’s saber program in the United States.  

    Oldham is a successful saber fencer, having competed for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the international level with several top 32 finishes and a bronze team medal.  

    She has parlayed that experience in many ways, including as a coach — she’s currently a three-weapon fencing master with Forge Fencing in Durham, North Carolina — and also as an advocate for increasing the diversity, unity and equity within fencing.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Jen Oldham on Coaching and Overcoming Obstacles Facing Women Fencing Professionals Jen Oldham, Bryan Wendell 00:37:30 Our guest is Jen Oldham, a fencing coach, co-founder of WFencing and pioneer of the women’s saber program in the United States! Our guest is Jen Oldham, a fencing coach, co-founder of WFencing and pioneer of the women’s saber program in the United States! fencing, sports, wfencing, saber, olympics false full 20     e5b251b0-2e8c-40af-a195-32a8f4189dcf Natalie Dostert, Women’s Epee National Coach, on Why She Loves Epee In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Natalie Dostert, Team USA's women's epee national head coach.

    Before taking the lead of Team USA’s women’s epee program in January 2022, Natalie coached our cadet and junior women’s epee teams, trained several U.S. national team members and guided athletes to international medals. The list of fencers she has worked with is too long to name, but just a few are Kelley and Courtney Hurley, Kat Holmes and Francesca Bassa.

    She’s been an epee coach at the Alliance Fencing Academy in Houston since 2015. Before that, Natalie was the head epee coach at a fencing club in Bonn, Germany, from 2013 to 2015.  

    And her own fencing experience is definitely worth mentioning as well. Natalie was a German national team and university champion, holds a German “Coaching ‘A’” license from the German Fencing Federation and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Bonn.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 16 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Natalie Dostert, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/natalie-dostert-sLDrCDrY In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Natalie Dostert, Team USA's women's epee national head coach.

    Before taking the lead of Team USA’s women’s epee program in January 2022, Natalie coached our cadet and junior women’s epee teams, trained several U.S. national team members and guided athletes to international medals. The list of fencers she has worked with is too long to name, but just a few are Kelley and Courtney Hurley, Kat Holmes and Francesca Bassa.

    She’s been an epee coach at the Alliance Fencing Academy in Houston since 2015. Before that, Natalie was the head epee coach at a fencing club in Bonn, Germany, from 2013 to 2015.  

    And her own fencing experience is definitely worth mentioning as well. Natalie was a German national team and university champion, holds a German “Coaching ‘A’” license from the German Fencing Federation and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Bonn.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Natalie Dostert, Women’s Epee National Coach, on Why She Loves Epee Natalie Dostert, Bryan Wendell 00:25:35 Our guest is Women’s Epee National Head Coach Natalie Dostert! Our guest is Women’s Epee National Head Coach Natalie Dostert! fencing, olympics false full 19     806c627c-f7ad-4f1c-8f24-2f870d7388f1 Felicia and Iris Zimmermann on the Journey to the 2000 Olympics — and Beyond — as Sisters In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Felicia and Iris Zimmermann, USA Fencing Hall of Famers and Olympians. 

    Felicia Zimmermann is a foil fencer who competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. At Stanford, Felicia was the first woman to win NCAA titles in both foil and epee. She was also the U.S. national champion in foil four times and helped the USA win team bronze at the 2001 Senior Worlds.  

    Felicia’s younger sister is foil fencer Iris Zimmermann, who competed alongside Felicia at the 2000 Olympics. Iris is a three-time world champion in foil — winning the Cadet world championship in 1995 and 1997 and the Junior world championship in 2000. Iris also attended Stanford, where she won the NCAA title in 2001. She was also a three-time U.S. national champion and was on that same bronze-medal-winning team at the 2001 Senior Worlds.

    We'll ask these Olympians sisters about their journey to the Games and how they supported each other along the way.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 2 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Felicia Zimmermann, Iris Zimmermann, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/felicia-and-iris-zimmermann-0ITPBNg9 In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Felicia and Iris Zimmermann, USA Fencing Hall of Famers and Olympians. 

    Felicia Zimmermann is a foil fencer who competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. At Stanford, Felicia was the first woman to win NCAA titles in both foil and epee. She was also the U.S. national champion in foil four times and helped the USA win team bronze at the 2001 Senior Worlds.  

    Felicia’s younger sister is foil fencer Iris Zimmermann, who competed alongside Felicia at the 2000 Olympics. Iris is a three-time world champion in foil — winning the Cadet world championship in 1995 and 1997 and the Junior world championship in 2000. Iris also attended Stanford, where she won the NCAA title in 2001. She was also a three-time U.S. national champion and was on that same bronze-medal-winning team at the 2001 Senior Worlds.

    We'll ask these Olympians sisters about their journey to the Games and how they supported each other along the way.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Felicia and Iris Zimmermann on the Journey to the 2000 Olympics — and Beyond — as Sisters Felicia Zimmermann, Iris Zimmermann, Bryan Wendell 00:33:56 Our guests are USA Fencing Hall of Famers Iris and Felicia Zimmermann, Olympians who competed together in women's foil at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Our guests are USA Fencing Hall of Famers Iris and Felicia Zimmermann, Olympians who competed together in women's foil at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. fencing, sports, usa fencing, olympics false full 18     dd12f69c-2457-4806-9444-91100e0b2fc8 Aaron Luo on Staying in Fencing Shape and Balancing Vet Fencing With Being a Fencing Dad In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Aaron Luo, a Vet-40 Men’s Epee Fencer and member of Fencers Club in New York City.

    Aaron is also the proud father — and coach — of two fencing sons — 9-year-old Alexander and 6-year-old Sebastian.  

    And when he’s not fencing or cheering on his boys, Aaron is the CEO of two companies, including Caraa, a sport bag and accessory company, and Mercado Famous, a gourmet-food company.

    We chat with Aaron about how he keeps in fencing shape, his return from a 10-year hiatus in fencing, and how he manages his busy schedule.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 12 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Aaron Luo, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/aaron-luo-Hix8VBm5 In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Aaron Luo, a Vet-40 Men’s Epee Fencer and member of Fencers Club in New York City.

    Aaron is also the proud father — and coach — of two fencing sons — 9-year-old Alexander and 6-year-old Sebastian.  

    And when he’s not fencing or cheering on his boys, Aaron is the CEO of two companies, including Caraa, a sport bag and accessory company, and Mercado Famous, a gourmet-food company.

    We chat with Aaron about how he keeps in fencing shape, his return from a 10-year hiatus in fencing, and how he manages his busy schedule.  

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Aaron Luo on Staying in Fencing Shape and Balancing Vet Fencing With Being a Fencing Dad Aaron Luo, Bryan Wendell 00:35:24 Our guest is Aaron Luo, a Vet-40 Men’s Epee Fencer and member of Fencers Club in New York City who was featured in a high-profile piece in The Wall Street Journal. Our guest is Aaron Luo, a Vet-40 Men’s Epee Fencer and member of Fencers Club in New York City who was featured in a high-profile piece in The Wall Street Journal. fencing, sports, fitness, olympics false full 17     06faa1ba-0934-4b8d-84a5-69a8d46a7e02 2004 Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers on Making the Paralympics and Growing Parafencing in the U.S. In this episode of First to 15, we're joined three-time Paralympian and 2004 Paralympic Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers.

    It was 1993 when Scott was first introduced to what was then called wheelchair fencing and is now known in the U.S. as parafencing. He quickly learned he was pretty good at it, and before long he was earning medals at the national and then international level.

    Speaking of international fencing, Scott competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, and returned to represent Team USA at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Scott Rodgers, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/scott-rodgers-U59gR4cr In this episode of First to 15, we're joined three-time Paralympian and 2004 Paralympic Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers.

    It was 1993 when Scott was first introduced to what was then called wheelchair fencing and is now known in the U.S. as parafencing. He quickly learned he was pretty good at it, and before long he was earning medals at the national and then international level.

    Speaking of international fencing, Scott competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, and returned to represent Team USA at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     2004 Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers on Making the Paralympics and Growing Parafencing in the U.S. Scott Rodgers, Bryan Wendell 00:31:52 Our guest today is three-time Paralympian and 2004 Paralympic Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers. Our guest today is three-time Paralympian and 2004 Paralympic Bronze Medalist Scott Rodgers. paralympics, fencing, parafencing, olympics false full 16     56326e15-0dc2-4c64-ba5f-58d018f5d5ff Khalil Thompson on Overcoming Anxiety and Depression and Making the Olympics In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by saber fencer and 2020 Olympian Khalil Thompson. 

    Khalil is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world in men's saber. He represented Team USA at the 2019 Senior World Championships, the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Senior World Championships. And he's a three-time national champion in the Division I Men's Saber Team Event as a member of the team from the Peter Westbrook Foundation. 

    In this episode, we asked Khalil whether he was competitive with his older sister (also a phenomenal fencer), his struggles with anxiety and depression, and how he deals with the pressures of competitive fencing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 14 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Khalil Thompson, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/khalil-thompson-46rPHJLW In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by saber fencer and 2020 Olympian Khalil Thompson. 

    Khalil is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world in men's saber. He represented Team USA at the 2019 Senior World Championships, the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Senior World Championships. And he's a three-time national champion in the Division I Men's Saber Team Event as a member of the team from the Peter Westbrook Foundation. 

    In this episode, we asked Khalil whether he was competitive with his older sister (also a phenomenal fencer), his struggles with anxiety and depression, and how he deals with the pressures of competitive fencing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Khalil Thompson on Overcoming Anxiety and Depression and Making the Olympics Khalil Thompson, Bryan Wendell 00:43:14 Our guest today is saber fencer and 2020 Olympian Khalil Thompson, who is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world in men's saber. Our guest today is saber fencer and 2020 Olympian Khalil Thompson, who is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world in men's saber. fencing, saber, olympics, team usa false full 15     e424a1af-5202-401f-814d-aa3c94e061fd Laura Decker on What it Takes to Be a High-Level Fencing Referee In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Laura Decker, one of the top fencing referees in the country and regularly chosen to officiate at the highest levels of national and international competition. 

    She was recently the lone American referee at the 2022 Fencing World Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

    Laura graduated from Caltech, where she was the first female fencer from that school to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She still competes in saber alongside her role as one of the world’s most respected officials.

    In this episode, we asked Laura how she became a referee, how she keeps her officiating skills sharp and the "feedback" she gets from coaches and fencers while refereeing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Laura Decker, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/laura-decker-BAoynRVd In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Laura Decker, one of the top fencing referees in the country and regularly chosen to officiate at the highest levels of national and international competition. 

    She was recently the lone American referee at the 2022 Fencing World Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

    Laura graduated from Caltech, where she was the first female fencer from that school to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She still competes in saber alongside her role as one of the world’s most respected officials.

    In this episode, we asked Laura how she became a referee, how she keeps her officiating skills sharp and the "feedback" she gets from coaches and fencers while refereeing. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Laura Decker on What it Takes to Be a High-Level Fencing Referee Laura Decker, Bryan Wendell 00:30:52 Our guest today is Laura Decker, one of the top fencing referees in the country and regularly chosen to officiate at the highest levels of national and international competition. Our guest today is Laura Decker, one of the top fencing referees in the country and regularly chosen to officiate at the highest levels of national and international competition. fencing, refereeing, sports, olympics false full 14     d72d6b33-6e8e-4d73-8b96-2ea626c00b42 Eric Momberg on What Juniors and Cadets Should Know About College Recruiting In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Eric Momberg, head coach of the fencing team at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. 

    Before Eric joined the Vikings of NCAA’s Division III, he was an assistant coach for the women's team at Northwestern University, where he earned Coach of the Year honors and led the Wildcats to two conference championships. 

    Before that, he coached fencers to more than 60 medals at North American Cups, also known as NACs. It's safe to say, he's found coaching success at all levels of fencing. Today, we're going to ask Eric about his own story about collegiate fencing, of course, and what juniors and cadets need to know about the college recruiting process. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 17 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Eric Momberg, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/eric-momberg-8zuuZGTC In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Eric Momberg, head coach of the fencing team at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. 

    Before Eric joined the Vikings of NCAA’s Division III, he was an assistant coach for the women's team at Northwestern University, where he earned Coach of the Year honors and led the Wildcats to two conference championships. 

    Before that, he coached fencers to more than 60 medals at North American Cups, also known as NACs. It's safe to say, he's found coaching success at all levels of fencing. Today, we're going to ask Eric about his own story about collegiate fencing, of course, and what juniors and cadets need to know about the college recruiting process. 

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Eric Momberg on What Juniors and Cadets Should Know About College Recruiting Eric Momberg, Bryan Wendell 00:37:45 Our guest today is Eric Momberg, Head Coach of the fencing team at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. Our guest today is Eric Momberg, Head Coach of the fencing team at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. fencing, ncaa, sports, usa fencing, olympics false full 13     241ce067-a3a8-4959-9b3c-83f65180896a Sylvie Binder on Continuing Her Fencing Journey into College In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Sylvie Binder, a recent graduate from Columbia University who had an impressive collegiate career, including being named a first-team All-American three times and winning both the NCAA team championship and the NCAA individual women’s foil title in 2019.

    She graduated in 2022 and was the Ivy League’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.  

    As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, Sylvie also graduated with a 3.91 GPA, coached fencing at a local middle school and participated in a panel of elite female fencers to discuss mental health.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 3 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Sylvie Binder, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/sylvie-binder-4QUGvUWg In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Sylvie Binder, a recent graduate from Columbia University who had an impressive collegiate career, including being named a first-team All-American three times and winning both the NCAA team championship and the NCAA individual women’s foil title in 2019.

    She graduated in 2022 and was the Ivy League’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.  

    As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, Sylvie also graduated with a 3.91 GPA, coached fencing at a local middle school and participated in a panel of elite female fencers to discuss mental health.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Sylvie Binder on Continuing Her Fencing Journey into College Sylvie Binder, Bryan Wendell 00:25:20 Our guest is foil fencer Sylvie Binder, a recent graduate from Columbia University who had an impressive collegiate career, including being named a first-team All-American three times and winning both the NCAA team championship and the NCAA individual women’s foil title in 2019. Our guest is foil fencer Sylvie Binder, a recent graduate from Columbia University who had an impressive collegiate career, including being named a first-team All-American three times and winning both the NCAA team championship and the NCAA individual women’s foil title in 2019. fencing, columbia university, sports, college false full 12     f6504673-817b-449d-9382-334daeb29d8a Damien Lehfeldt on How Team USA Is Using Analytics to Get an Edge In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by "The Fencing Coach" himself, Damien Lehfeldt. 

    Damien has been writing The Fencing Coach blog since 2012. That’s the same year he helped coach Team USA’s Suzanne Stetinius to the London Olympics in Modern Pentathlon. He’s now a coach at Nova Fencing Club in Virginia.

    Damien is a former epee fencer who had a successful career at Brandeis University, where he graduated in 2009, and he later won gold in the men’s epee team event at the 2012 North American Cup.

    On top of all that, he’s the strategy and data lead for the Team USA national epee team. We’re going to talk about what that means and more in today’s episode.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Damien Lehfeldt, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/damien-lehfeldt-GOny1Ldd In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by "The Fencing Coach" himself, Damien Lehfeldt. 

    Damien has been writing The Fencing Coach blog since 2012. That’s the same year he helped coach Team USA’s Suzanne Stetinius to the London Olympics in Modern Pentathlon. He’s now a coach at Nova Fencing Club in Virginia.

    Damien is a former epee fencer who had a successful career at Brandeis University, where he graduated in 2009, and he later won gold in the men’s epee team event at the 2012 North American Cup.

    On top of all that, he’s the strategy and data lead for the Team USA national epee team. We’re going to talk about what that means and more in today’s episode.

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Damien Lehfeldt on How Team USA Is Using Analytics to Get an Edge Damien Lehfeldt, Bryan Wendell 00:29:20 Our guest is Damien Lehfeldt, known on Instagram and elsewhere as "The Fencing Coach" but also the strategy and data lead for the Team USA national epee team. We chatted with him about the analytics behind Team USA's drive for gold. Our guest is Damien Lehfeldt, known on Instagram and elsewhere as "The Fencing Coach" but also the strategy and data lead for the Team USA national epee team. We chatted with him about the analytics behind Team USA's drive for gold. fencing, epee, usa fencing, olympics false full 11     667d2b3a-ed6b-4af0-9ae3-0de728ed9b63 USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews on the Future of Our Sport In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. 

    Listen for a frank and entertaining conversation about Phil's time as an ice hockey player, what he's most proud of from his time as CEO of USA Weightlifting, his commitment to transparency at USA Fencing and much more. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 5 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Phil Andrews, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/phil-andrews-tjOsREVi In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. 

    Listen for a frank and entertaining conversation about Phil's time as an ice hockey player, what he's most proud of from his time as CEO of USA Weightlifting, his commitment to transparency at USA Fencing and much more. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews on the Future of Our Sport Phil Andrews, Bryan Wendell 00:31:54 Our guest is Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. Phil joins USA Fencing after nearly a decade of service at USA Weightlifting, and he joins First to 15 to discuss his journey to USA Fencing, where he hopes to see the fencing movement go over the next several years and what kind of CEO he plans to be. Our guest is Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. Phil joins USA Fencing after nearly a decade of service at USA Weightlifting, and he joins First to 15 to discuss his journey to USA Fencing, where he hopes to see the fencing movement go over the next several years and what kind of CEO he plans to be. paralympics, fencing, usa fencing, olympics false full 10     493afa3d-1bdd-4db0-b5aa-ba1692d96feb Chris O’Loughlin on the Road to the 1992 Olympics and His Continued Success in Veteran Fencing In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Chris O’Loughlin, an epee fencer and 1992 Olympian who has been an individual national champion at pretty much every level — junior, NCAA, senior and veteran.

    In June, voters across the country elected O’Loughlin into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023, which means he’ll be inducted next summer in Phoenix.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 22 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Chris O'Loughlin, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/chris-oloughlin-O2zdbZlT In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Chris O’Loughlin, an epee fencer and 1992 Olympian who has been an individual national champion at pretty much every level — junior, NCAA, senior and veteran.

    In June, voters across the country elected O’Loughlin into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023, which means he’ll be inducted next summer in Phoenix.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Chris O’Loughlin on the Road to the 1992 Olympics and His Continued Success in Veteran Fencing Chris O'Loughlin, Bryan Wendell 00:31:55 Our guest is Chris O’Loughlin, an epee fencer and 1992 Olympian who has been an individual national champion at pretty much every level — junior, NCAA, senior and veteran. Our guest is Chris O’Loughlin, an epee fencer and 1992 Olympian who has been an individual national champion at pretty much every level — junior, NCAA, senior and veteran. fencing, olympics false full 9     6bf67936-fcb0-4cb7-a95c-975487cce317 Supriya Nair on Neurofencing and Whether Warming Up Really Helps You Fence Better In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Supriya Nair, who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center in Washington state. 

    Supriya had always heard from her coaches that pre-bout warmups were important, but — being the curious future scientist that she is — she wondered if there was any quantitative data to prove it. So she set out to investigate this for herself — using special equipment to test that hypothesis. The result was an award-winning experiment she calls Neurofencing.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 8 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/supriya-nair-eajzJjFC In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Supriya Nair, who fences with the Rain City Fencing Center in Washington state. 

    Supriya had always heard from her coaches that pre-bout warmups were important, but — being the curious future scientist that she is — she wondered if there was any quantitative data to prove it. So she set out to investigate this for herself — using special equipment to test that hypothesis. The result was an award-winning experiment she calls Neurofencing.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Supriya Nair on Neurofencing and Whether Warming Up Really Helps You Fence Better Supriya Nair, Bryan Wendell 00:16:09 Our guest is Supriya Nair, a 13-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who investigated the importance of warming up before fencing for a project she calls "Neurofencing." Our guest is Supriya Nair, a 13-year-old foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., who investigated the importance of warming up before fencing for a project she calls "Neurofencing." fencing, sports, olympics, neurofencing false full 8     c74815ba-d5ae-4a47-9be9-ee0855789201 Em Beihold on College Fencing, Mental Health and the Road to Songwriting Stardom In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Em Beihold, a 23-year-old epee fencer who is a 2020 graduate of UC San Diego, where she twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and helped her school win the league title two times. 

    After college, Beihold embarked on a successful career as a singer-songwriter. Her hit song “Numb Little Bug” — a powerful pop anthem born out of a conversation about mental health — hit No. 1 on Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart in February and has been streamed more than 300 million times. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 25 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Em Beihold, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/em-beihold-CyWv5DcK In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Em Beihold, a 23-year-old epee fencer who is a 2020 graduate of UC San Diego, where she twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and helped her school win the league title two times. 

    After college, Beihold embarked on a successful career as a singer-songwriter. Her hit song “Numb Little Bug” — a powerful pop anthem born out of a conversation about mental health — hit No. 1 on Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart in February and has been streamed more than 300 million times. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Em Beihold on College Fencing, Mental Health and the Road to Songwriting Stardom Em Beihold, Bryan Wendell 00:18:21 Our guest is Em Beihold, a successful singer-songwriter whose hit song "Numb Little Bug" has brought her global fame. She's a 23-year-old epee fencer and a 2020 graduate of UC San Diego, where she twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and helped her school win the league title two times. Our guest is Em Beihold, a successful singer-songwriter whose hit song "Numb Little Bug" has brought her global fame. She's a 23-year-old epee fencer and a 2020 graduate of UC San Diego, where she twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and helped her school win the league title two times. fencing, usa fencing, olympics false full 7     048badfa-6897-470e-9937-5e6248562d8c Jeidus DeSeranno on the Journey from Y8 to a Senior World Cup — and Beyond In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Jeidus DeSeranno, a rising star in the world of men's foil at just 14 years old.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 11 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Jeidus DeSeranno) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/jeidus-deseranno-T3dJ_Bkl In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Jeidus DeSeranno, a rising star in the world of men's foil at just 14 years old.

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Jeidus DeSeranno on the Journey from Y8 to a Senior World Cup — and Beyond Bryan Wendell, Jeidus DeSeranno 00:19:36 Our guest is Jeidus DeSeranno, a foil fencer who represents the Renaissance Fencing Club of Michigan and is a rising star in the sport. We talked about why he started fencing and how he has progressed from success at the Y8 and Y10 levels to competing in his first senior World Cup event at age 14. Our guest is Jeidus DeSeranno, a foil fencer who represents the Renaissance Fencing Club of Michigan and is a rising star in the sport. We talked about why he started fencing and how he has progressed from success at the Y8 and Y10 levels to competing in his first senior World Cup event at age 14. fencing, foil, olympics false full 6     1c784bf3-0e9e-437c-b054-841b42232fa9 Daryl Homer on the Secret to Consistently Strong Fencing In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Daryl Homer, three-time Olympian and 2016 Summer Olympics silver medalist in men's saber. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 27 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Daryl Homer, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/daryl-homer-Z7lYkkSK In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Daryl Homer, three-time Olympian and 2016 Summer Olympics silver medalist in men's saber. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Daryl Homer on the Secret to Consistently Strong Fencing Daryl Homer, Bryan Wendell 00:26:26 Our guest is Daryl Homer, three-time Olympian (2012, 2016 and 2020) who earned a silver medal at the 2016 games in Rio, becoming the first U.S. men's saber fencer to win an individual silver at the Olympics since 1904. We talked about his fencing origin story, the secret to his consistency and how he's changed in the 13 years since he made his first senior team. Our guest is Daryl Homer, three-time Olympian (2012, 2016 and 2020) who earned a silver medal at the 2016 games in Rio, becoming the first U.S. men's saber fencer to win an individual silver at the Olympics since 1904. We talked about his fencing origin story, the secret to his consistency and how he's changed in the 13 years since he made his first senior team. fencing, saber, olympics false full 5     a4b89021-995c-4c6b-96ce-ed4040b3fdea Hadley Husisian on Qualifying for Her First Senior World Team In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Hadley Husisian, an 18-year-old epee fencer from Oakton, Va., and the reigning junior world champion in women’s epee. Hadley represents the Fencers Club Inc., Elite Fencing Academy and DC Fencers Club.  

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Hadley Husisian) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/hadley-husisian-iY2MGSu5 In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Hadley Husisian, an 18-year-old epee fencer from Oakton, Va., and the reigning junior world champion in women’s epee. Hadley represents the Fencers Club Inc., Elite Fencing Academy and DC Fencers Club.  

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Hadley Husisian on Qualifying for Her First Senior World Team Bryan Wendell, Hadley Husisian 00:24:02 Hadley Husisian, an 18-year-old epee fencer from Oakton, Va., and the reigning junior world champion in women’s epee, shares how she got into fencing, the trick for keeping up with schoolwork when traveling and what it was like to qualify for her first Senior World Team. Hadley Husisian, an 18-year-old epee fencer from Oakton, Va., and the reigning junior world champion in women’s epee, shares how she got into fencing, the trick for keeping up with schoolwork when traveling and what it was like to qualify for her first Senior World Team. fencing, epee, olympics false full 4     44b2aa2b-89be-4248-947e-73d7980c0519 Tim French on What He's Learned as a Coach In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Tim French, a foil coach at the Round Rock Fencing Club in Round Rock, Texas — which is near Austin. Tim is a product of the Round Rock Fencing Club himself and actually fenced at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was an All-American there and fenced at the NCAA Championships, placing as high as eighth in men’s epee.  

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 30 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Tim French) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-french-rXXs6c_E In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Tim French, a foil coach at the Round Rock Fencing Club in Round Rock, Texas — which is near Austin. Tim is a product of the Round Rock Fencing Club himself and actually fenced at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was an All-American there and fenced at the NCAA Championships, placing as high as eighth in men’s epee.  

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Tim French on What He's Learned as a Coach Bryan Wendell, Tim French 00:22:13 Tim French, a foil coach at the Round Rock Fencing Club in Round Rock, Texas, shares how he got into fencing, his advice for young fencers just learning the sport, and how fencers at any level can absorb losses while also not getting too overcome by victories. Tim French, a foil coach at the Round Rock Fencing Club in Round Rock, Texas, shares how he got into fencing, his advice for young fencers just learning the sport, and how fencers at any level can absorb losses while also not getting too overcome by victories. fencing, tim french, sports, foil, epee, olympics false full 3     01dc9ad8-2bb1-4301-853f-45ef087d379a Magda Skarbonkiewicz on Life as a Junior World Champion In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Magda Skarbonkiewicz, a 16-year-old saber fencer from Portland, Oregon. You might know Magda's name from such recent hits as 2021 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, 2022 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, and 2022 Junior Women's Saber World Champion. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 16 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Bryan Wendell) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/magda-skarbonkiewicz-NrSWmEaG In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Magda Skarbonkiewicz, a 16-year-old saber fencer from Portland, Oregon. You might know Magda's name from such recent hits as 2021 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, 2022 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, and 2022 Junior Women's Saber World Champion. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Magda Skarbonkiewicz on Life as a Junior World Champion Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Bryan Wendell 00:18:15 We're joined by Magda Skarbonkiewicz, a 16-year-old saber fencer from Portland, Oregon, and the 2022 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, and 2022 Junior Women's Saber World Champion. We're joined by Magda Skarbonkiewicz, a 16-year-old saber fencer from Portland, Oregon, and the 2022 Cadet Women's Saber World Champion, and 2022 Junior Women's Saber World Champion. fencing, sports, saber, usa fencing false full 2     1c5c7abe-64b5-42c6-956d-95c3dc3f38dc Lee Kiefer on the Road to Olympic Gold — and Beyond In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by  Lee Kiefer, Olympic champion and the most successful women’s foil fencer in U.S. history. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Mon, 2 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000 b.wendell@usafencing.org (Bryan Wendell, Lee Kiefer) https://first-to-15.simplecast.com/episodes/lee-kiefer-3xr6yJo1 In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by  Lee Kiefer, Olympic champion and the most successful women’s foil fencer in U.S. history. 

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    --

    First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

    Host: Bryan Wendell

    Cover art: Manna Creations

    Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

    ]]>     Lee Kiefer on the Road to Olympic Gold — and Beyond Bryan Wendell, Lee Kiefer 00:23:27 Our guest is Lee Kiefer, Olympic champion and the most successful women’s foil fencer in U.S. history. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, she brought home a gold medal in foil, becoming the first American foil fencer — woman or man — to win individual Olympic gold in that weapon. Our guest is Lee Kiefer, Olympic champion and the most successful women’s foil fencer in U.S. history. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, she brought home a gold medal in foil, becoming the first American foil fencer — woman or man — to win individual Olympic gold in that weapon. fencing, sports, foil, usa fencing false full 1