First to 15: The USA Fencing Podcast

Episodes

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  Brandon Rochelle on the How and Why of the Events Restructure 10.06.2026 41m

  USA Fencing is introducing a new points and events structure for cadet, junior and Division I categories beginning Aug. 1, 2026. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell talks with Tournament Committee Chair Brandon Rochelle about why the change was needed, how the new structure will work and what it means for fencers, parents and coaches.
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  Brad Suchorski on the Work Behind College Fencing’s Growth 04.05.2026 48m

  College fencing growth does not happen by accident. In this episode of First to 15, Bryan Wendell sits down with Brad Suchorski, USA Fencing’s Director of Membership, Service and Growth, to talk about the work happening behind the scenes to expand and sustain college fencing in the United States. They discuss the spring NCAA Championships at Notre Dame, the significance of separate men’s and women’s team titles, why schools add sports in the first place, and how USA Fencing works with colleges and universities to make the case for fencing. Brad also explains how recruiting tools like College Connect, college fairs and Recruiting 101 sessions fit into the bigger picture — and why growing college fencing means supporting both new and existing programs. If you’ve ever wondered how a school actually adds fencing, or what families should understand about the college fencing landscape, this episode is for you.
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  Deep Patel on Going from Beginner to Captain to Coach 16.03.2026 34m

  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.
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  David Sierra on the Surprising Links Between Coaching NCAA Fencers and Vet Fencers 23.02.2026 43m

  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.
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  Corwin Duncan on Why You Fence Great in Practice but Struggle in Competition 02.02.2026 37m

  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.
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  Peter Grandbois on Starting a Collegiate Fencing Program from Scratch 26.01.2026 38m

  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.
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  DoGood on Turning Tournament Weekends Into Community Impact 19.01.2026 33m

  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.
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  Rob Charlton on Why NCAA Fencing Is Within Your Reach 05.01.2026 42m

  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.
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  Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio on Expanding Fencing’s Global Reach 15.12.2025 35m

  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.
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  Courtney Hurley OLY & Chris Ferrara on Building College-Ready Scholar-Athletes 08.12.2025 39m

  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.
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  Eric Nassos on the Joys of Collegiate Club Fencing 17.11.2025 42m

  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.
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  Ken Gauvey and Michael Hughes on Being Clubmates Who Each Donated Their Kidney 10.11.2025 33m

  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.
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  Eric Soyka, National Parafencing Coach, on the Growth of Parafencing in the US 03.11.2025 41m

  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.
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  Amy Wilson on Strategies That Work for Your Neurodivergent Fencers 27.10.2025 42m

  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.
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  Ari Simmons on What Fencing Teaches About Grit and Avoiding Burnout 20.10.2025 48m

  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.
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  Alyssa Hirsch on Telling the Untold Stories of Fencing’s Past 13.10.2025 37m

  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.
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  Dr. Nicole Polanichka on Turning Competition Anxiety Into Confidence 06.10.2025 39m

  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.
• 
  Ben Paul of Leon Paul Talks Memories from London 2012 and What’s Next in Fencing Gear 29.09.2025 38m

  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.
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  Damien Lehfeldt, USA Fencing Board Chair, on the Difference Between Governance and Operations 22.09.2025 38m

  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.
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  Eli Dershwitz on Why He Bought Zeta Fencing, His Childhood Club 08.09.2025 35m

  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.