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.

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First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

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.

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First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn

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!

• Visit the USA Fencing website
• Follow USA Fencing on Instagram
• Read a transcript for this episode

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First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing

Host: Bryan Wendell

Cover art: Manna Creations

Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn