First to 15: The USA Fencing Podcast

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 Stanfor...

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...

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 Fencin...

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 Fencin...

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...

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 Fencin...

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 Fencin...

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 Fencin...

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 Fencin...

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 cat...

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 parafencin...

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 lear...

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 e...

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 Tikhomiro...

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 r...

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. Visit the...

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 t...

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 Visit the USA Fencing website Follow USA Fencing on Instagram Read a transcript for...

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

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. Visit the USA Fencing website Follow USA Fencing on Instagram Read a transcript for this episode Follow Margherita on Instagram -- First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing Host: Bryan Wendell Cover art: Manna Creations Theme m...

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...

Our guest is Nick Itkin OLY, fresh off his win at the Absolute Fencing Gear Foil Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.! Visit the USA Fencing website Follow USA Fencing on Instagram Read a transcript for this episode Follow Nick on Instagram -- First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing Host: Bryan Wendell Cover art: Manna Creations Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

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. Visit the USA Fencing website Follow USA Fencing on Instagram Read a transcript for this episode -- First to 1...

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 fenc...

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-...