PRTC senior athlete Darian Cruz earned a Silver Medal at 57 kg representing Puerto Rico at the Central American and Caribbean Games!

This podium finish marks a strong opening statement in Darian's dedicated build toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Darian navigated a tough international field at 57kg to earn his spot on the podium:

Round of 16: WIN vs. Jackson (Jamaica)  Forfeit

Quarterfinals: WIN vs. Leete (Dominican Republic)  5-1 Decision

Semifinals: WIN vs. Mejias (Venezuela)  2-1 Decision

Gold Medal Match: LOSS vs. Roman Bravo-Young (Mexico)  11-0 Tech Fall

All-In for LA 2028 & Back with Coach Santoro

This performance comes on the heels of a major career shift. Darian recently stepped down from his position as Assistant Coach at the University of Pennsylvania to transition into a full-time senior athlete for the PRTC.

This move also officially reunites Darian with Pat Santoro, his college head coach at Lehigh University. Together, the duo reached the peak of folkstyle wrestling when Darian captured the 2017 NCAA Championship at 125 lbs alongside three All-American honors.

Having Coach Santoro back in his corner brings powerful momentum as Darian builds on his 2024 Paris Olympic run and sets his sight squarely on the podium in Los Angeles.

"Stepping into a full-time athlete role at the PRTC allows me to devote 100% of my energy to this Olympic cycle. Reuniting with Coach Santoro brings everything full circle...we’ve hit the highest level together before, and having him in my corner gives me complete confidence as we push toward LA28." — Darian Cruz

Follow the Journey

Every international competition is a step closer to LA28. Thank you to our PRTC community for making it possible for world-class athletes like Darian to train and compete at the highest level right here in Philadelphia.