PRTC Wrestling

PRTC Becomes New Host of Keystone Classic

2022-09-29

Philadelphia, Pa – The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC), an official USA Wrestling organization, is the new host of the Keystone Classic, a perennial college kickoff event to the NCAA Division 1 season. The event, previously hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, has been held in the historic Palestra on campus in University City, Philadelphia since its inception in 1996.

PRTC Executive Director and Head Coach Brandon Slay is excited about the future of the event he once competed in. “It is an honor to become the host of the Keystone Classic,” said Slay. “Twenty six years ago, I wrestled in this tournament with my teammates at Penn. Continuing the tradition of presenting a high level event for programs looking to test their student-athletes early in the season, is something I am very much looking forward to. I am thankful to Coach Reina and the Penn Administration for this opportunity.”

Penn Wrestling Head Coach Roger Reina created the Keystone Classic in 1996. Calling it a “classic” in the first year was a bold move by Reina but the name has stuck through the decades. One of the founders of the PRTC, Reina is excited about the future of his original creation.

“The Keystone Classic has hosted many of the top teams in the NCAA over the past 25 years,” said Reina. “Going forward, we expect competitive levels to continue to rise, fan excitement and access to increase, and the Keystone clearly becoming the preeminent NCAA D1 tournament in the East.”

The 2022 PRTC Keystone Classic field will include a mix of competitive level teams from leagues and conferences around the country including EIWA, Ivy League, ACC, MAC, Southern Conference, and PAC 12. This year’s teams include Appalachian State, Arizona State, Drexel, Duke, Franklin and Marshall, George Mason, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Rider, Sacred Heart, and Virginia Tech.

The PRTC has also reached an agreement with media provider FloWrestling to stream all matches live online. Brackets and updates throughout the tournament will be provided on FloArena.

“We are excited to announce the PRTC and Flo Wrestling partnering to host and broadcast the Keystone Classic,” said Reina. “In Penn’s historic and vibrant Palestra , Greek for ‘House of Wrestling’ and one of the very best wrestling arenas in the nation, we will continue the tradition we started so long ago and take it well into the future.”

The Keystone Classic will be held on November 20, 2022. Wrestling begins at 9:30am. Tickets are available at PRTC Keystone Classic. For more information and for sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kevin McGuigan at kevin@pennsylvaniartc.org.

2015 Drexel Wrestling Eiwa Recap

2023-10-21

Devoy Earns EIWA Title, Four Other Dragons Place At Conference Championships

Image and Post From Drexeldragons.com

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Kevin Devoy Jr. became Drexel’s first-ever EIWA Champion as he secured the conference title at 133 pounds on Saturday evening. Devoy defeated Lehigh’s Mason Beckman, who is ranked 10th in the nation by Intermat, in exciting fashion as he picked up an 8-7 decision after multiple overtime periods.

Devoy wasn’t the only Dragon to end the conference tournament on a high note. Matthew Cimato and Noel Blanco each captured third place finishes at 149 and 157 pounds respectively, while David Pearce placed fourth at 141. Zack Fuentes also secured an eighth place finish at 125 in his first EIWA tournament appearance. The Dragons finished in sixth place in the team rankings with 71.5 points behind No. 3 Cornell, No. 8 Lehigh, Bucknell, Columbia, and Penn.

As a result of their strong performances, Devoy, Pearce, Cimato, and Blanco each earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo. on March 19-21…

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2015 Penn Wrestling Eiwa Recap

2015-03-15

Bethea Takes 2nd at EIWAs; Wrestling 5th Overall

Image and Post From Pennathletics.com

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team placed seven wrestlers at the 2015 EIWA Championships, lCanaan Bethea became Penn’s 73rd finalist in the last 25 years with a 3-1 win over the top seed at 197 pounds, Abram Ayala of Princeton. After a scoreless first period, Bethea escaped quickly in the second and added a takedown for a 3-0 lead. Ayala would escape in the third period, but Bethea held Ayala down in a scramble over the final 25 seconds for his first win in three tries against the Princeton wrestler this season… ed by Canaan Bethea, runner-up at 197 pounds. As a team, Penn finished fifth overall with 78 team points.

Three Penn grapplers have earned automatic qualifying spots to the NCAA Championships – Canaan Bethea, Brooks Martino and Lorenzo Thomas.

Canaan Bethea became Penn’s 73rd finalist in the last 25 years with a 3-1 win over the top seed at 197 pounds, Abram Ayala of Princeton. After a scoreless first period, Bethea escaped quickly in the second and added a takedown for a 3-0 lead. Ayala would escape in the third period, but Bethea held Ayala down in a scramble over the final 25 seconds for his first win in three tries against the Princeton wrestler this season…

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