First to 15: The USA Fencing Podcast

Deep Patel on Going from Beginner to Captain to Coach

Episode Summary

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.

Episode Notes

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