# @USA Fencing on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=_Uyz-0clUsg
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/38358717-USA-Fencing-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1cc03beba8.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-12-08T11:01:16.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** USA Fencing (@USAFencing) — https://gondola.cc/USAFencing

## Caption

What happens when a three-time Olympian teams up with a school that schedules fencing every day?

Courtney Hurley OLY (team bronze) and Chris Ferrara (Assistant Head of School, Menaul School) share a practical blueprint for student-athletes: liberal-arts academics with “high challenge, high support,” daily training blocks, after-school lessons with Duke City Fencing, and a culture that grows motivation without the pressure cooker. We cover time management, the parent’s role, the competitive roadmap, and why Albuquerque might be fencing’s next hot spot.

Guests
Courtney Hurley OLY — Three-time Olympian (team bronze), Head Coach, Duke City Fencing; program lead at Menaul School
Chris Ferrara — Assistant Head of School & Upper School Director, Menaul School

Learn more
Menaul School Fencing (with Duke City Fencing): https://www.menaulschool.org/fencing-find-your-edge/

Chapters
00:00 Two perspectives, one goal
01:17 Courtney’s shift: elite habits → coaching culture
02:30 Liberal-arts model: teach how to think
05:24 Scholar-athlete logistics: travel, flexibility, LMS
08:36 Time management that sticks
10:16 Priorities, buy-in, and goal alignment
11:30 The schedule: daily fencing block + after-school lessons
14:55 Culture shift in Albuquerque
16:18 Why daily reps speed progress
17:12 Building toward a three-weapon, NCAA-style model
18:26 Why athletics matter for college success
20:45 Life skills fencing teaches
22:09 The parent’s role (authoritative vs. authoritarian)
27:55 Coaching as a new challenge
30:07 Is Menaul the right fit?
34:51 Putting ABQ on the fencing map
Quotable
“The #1 predictor of college success is GPA; the #2 is participation in varsity-level sports.” — Chris Ferrara

About First to 15
Hosted by Bryan Wendell, First to 15 spotlights athletes, coaches, referees, and leaders shaping fencing today. Listen by searching First to 15 USA Fencing on your favorite podcast app.

Hashtags
#Fencing #StudentAthlete #LiberalArts #MenaulSchool #DukeCityFencing #Epee #Foil #Saber #USAFencing

## Stats

- **Views:** 83
- **Likes:** 3
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

menaulschool, 2, foil, dukecityfencing, saber, usafencing, liberalarts, 1, epee, fencing, studentathlete

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