Season 2, Episode 13Guest: Ari Simmons — U.S. Men’s Epee; Cadet World Champion; 4x All-American (Notre Dame); Coach/Mentor; Co-host, The Direct Elimination PodcastWhat we coverOrigin story: from Alliance Fencing Academy kid to cadet world champWhy the sport still “gives him life”—and how fencing builds the person off the stripClosing the junior-to-senior gap in U.S. men’s epee: mentorship, shared training, professionalismThe Seth Kelsey effect: a national coach who’s been there—and still laces upCollege 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 offMentoring 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 generationLightning round: dream podcast guest, favorite cities, music, and the “favorite touch” seriesTimestamps0:00 — Intro: resilience, one-touch margins, and LA 20281:29 — Alliance beginnings; why he stayed when wins didn’t come early6:50 — Culture shift: mentorship and sharing across generations8:24 — Junior vs. senior success; what’s changing in men’s epee10:50 — Seth Kelsey’s impact and the team’s buy-in14:42 — College recruiting: honesty about fit; advice for today’s landscape23:12 — Why commitment matters to college coaches now24:35 — Avoiding burnout: intention, process goals, real rest31:00 — KM Mentorship: trends (pressure, expectations) and helping athletes thrive40:26 — Lightning round: guests, cities, hobbies, playlist, favorite videoQuotable“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 SimmonsCall to actionFollow 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.CreditsHost: Bryan Wendell • Guest: Ari Simmons
--First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA FencingHost: Bryan WendellCover art: Manna CreationsTheme music: Brian Sanyshyn

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