USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) — USA Fencing, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of fencing in the United States, has hired a new director of sports medicine and director of communications — positions designed to support USA Fencing’s mission and the needs of its members. 

Dr. Peggy Chin (Los Angeles, Calif.) will serve as USA Fencing’s director of sports medicine, working with USA Fencing athletes to provide exemplary medical care before, during and after domestic and international events — including the 2024 Olympics and beyond.

She’ll also work with the entire USA Fencing membership, designing educational resources to help members remain healthy as they practice, train and compete.

Prior to becoming director of sports medicine, Dr. Chin served for two and a half years as a sports medicine provider for the USA Fencing National Team. She delivered top-notch onsite support at training camps, World Cup events and the Tokyo Olympics. Dr. Chin has experience working with athletes across a wide range of sports, including football, handball, beach volleyball, basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, cycling (road and mountain), running and fencing.

Dr. Chin earned a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctor of chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus.

Bryan Wendell (Lewisburg, Pa.) will serve as USA Fencing’s director of communications, a role focused both on engaging current members by providing transparent, two-way communication and attracting new audiences to fencing by introducing families to the diverse faces behind the masks, helping newcomers better understand the sport, and showcasing fencing’s myriad benefits to mental and physical health.

Wendell joins USA Fencing after nearly three years at Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania and nearly 11 years at the Boy Scouts of America’s national headquarters in Texas. In both positions, he developed impactful storytelling designed to inform, inspire and entertain across a range of print and digital platforms. 

Wendell earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Texas Tech University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri.

After working in the aerospace industry (for Northrop Grumman) and technology sector (for Yahoo), Dr. Chin found her calling in healthcare. 

She worked her first USA Fencing event in July 2019 at the Summer Nationals and has been traveling with the National Team ever since. 

Dr. Chin has also taught extensively, sharing her sports medicine expertise with a wide range of audiences — from children in elementary school to medical students in college. She’s also an athlete herself. Dr. Chin is an avid basketball player and, when she’s not traveling with Team USA, is likely on a multiday backpacking trip or spending time outside with her dog, Winston.

In her new role, Dr. Chin will travel to assigned Olympic and Paralympic qualifying and Championship events to work with Team USA while also coordinating sports medicine coverage for USA Fencing’s domestic and international tournament schedule.

“Peggy has been a trusted, invaluable partner for athletes on our National Team over the past several years,” says Kate Reisinger, USA Fencing’s Senior Director of Sports Performance. “In her expanded role, she will continue to provide that great medical care while also helping all of our members — from newcomers to seasoned veterans — as they learn more about the science of sports medicine and how it applies to fencing.”

Dr. Chin says her goals include:

• Establishing a provider pool of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to support domestic and international events.
• Identifying and developing educational resources to help members remain healthy as they practice, train and compete.
• Further enhancing the sport of fencing through research.
• Supporting Team USA as it prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics — and beyond.

“I’m here to support our great athletes — at all levels — as they reach for their personal and competitive goals,” Dr. Chin says. “I want to equip our fencers with the resources and tools they need to have a great experience on and off the strip.”

Wendell began his career at the Boy Scouts of America, where he developed fresh approaches to telling the story of the century-old organization and its members. While there, he wrote dozens of feature-length articles for three BSA magazines, hosted a podcast and live videos, and launched the Bryan on Scouting blog, a daily news source that quickly grew in readership to more than 300,000 visitors a month. 

After more than 10 years at the Boy Scouts of America, Wendell moved to Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania to serve as the associate director of editorial strategy. While there, he created multichannel stories that introduced Bucknell to new audiences, leading to record-setting application numbers in 2021 and 2022.  

“Bryan brings a strong track record in connecting with audiences, telling stories, and developing connectivity and positive interaction,” says Jack Gierhart, USA Fencing’s interim CEO. “We are extremely excited to have him join the USA Fencing staff and community.”

Wendell, who is married with two children, is an avid runner and enjoys training for half marathons and marathons.

At USA Fencing, Wendell plans to bring a fresh approach to communicating with current and prospective members. His strategy will be focused on transparency, two-way communication and storytelling that strengthens the USA Fencing community.

He will engage current members through enhanced event coverage, expanded athlete profiles, and multichannel stories designed for anyone from a beginning fencer to a seasoned veteran.

“By shining a spotlight on our athletes — from first-timers to Olympic champions — we’ll open the door to new members while ensuring that current members feel equipped with everything they need to compete and grow in our sport,” Wendell says. “I can’t wait to get started.”