"I find myself continually reflecting on the profound impact of attending Coach Ripa's clinic. His wisdom transformed my approach to fencing in ways I couldn't have anticipated. The principles he shared with me during the clinic—mental toughness, integrity, process goals, and taking risks—particularly illustrated through a powerful story about his student's breakthrough at nationals, has reshaped how I prepare for every bout. I practice with renewed focus on process goals alongside outcomes, and I believe this shift will help me take smarter risks during crucial moments. Even his historical insights about equipment evolution have given me a deeper appreciation for our sport's traditions. It's this holistic approach to development that makes his coaching so distinctive."

"Coach Ripa really helped me through some tough times while I was at Brown. I was going to quit fencing but he spent a lot of time talking with me and helped me figure out what I wanted. I thought it was pretty great of him that he continued to work with us on the men's team even after he was only rehired for the women's varsity team when they were reinstated after the stupid cut. I know he felt bad for the recruited fencers that had committed to Brown ahead of the cut and it was a really unfair position for us to be in. "

"I worked with Coach Ripa on the team for four years and despite a lot of drama and administrative setbacks, he always led our team with integrity and really cared. When I first started, many fencers didn't take our practices seriously, but he created a culture of accountability and respect. His understanding of fencing was phenomenal and I still think of lessons he taught me. He had a very direct approach and expected us to step up and take a lot of ownership in our training. "