PRTC Wrestling

PRTC Senior Athletes to Compete at Pan Ams

2026-05-07

Coralville, Iowa - The Pennsylvania RTC is set to have strong representation on the international stage this weekend at the 2026 Pan American Championships in Coralville, Iowa, as four athletes will compete agains some of the top freestyle wrestlers in the Western Hemisphere. Hosted by USA Wrestling, the event will feature elite competitors from across North, Central, and South America, with all matches streamed live on FloWrestling.

Representing Puerto Rico will be Darian Cruz at 57kg, Shane Jones at 92kg, and Edwin Morales at 97kg. Representing Canada at 74kg will be Adam Thomson. Thomson is scheduled to compete on Saturday, May 9th, while Cruz, Jones, and Morales will all take the mat on Sunday, May 10th.

Cruz continues to be one of the most accomplished athletes training with the PRTC. A former NCAA Champion and All-American at Lehigh University, Cruz represented Puerto Rico internationally on multiple occasions and brings extensive experience to the Pan American stage. Cruz is a three-time Pan American medalist.

Jones has steadily developed into a dangerous upper-weight freestyle competitor through his work at the PRTC. Competing at 92kg, Jones has built a reputation for his physical style and offensive pressure while continuing to gain valuable international experience representing Puerto Rico. Jones is also a three-time Pan American medalist.

Morales enters the championships at 97kg after continuing to progress within the RTC system and international freestyle circuit. His size, athleticism, and commitment to development have helped him emerge as an important representative for Puerto Rico on the senior level. This will be Morales' first time competing at the Pan American Championships.

Thomson, representing Canada at 74kg, has become a key training partner and competitor within the PRTC room. A technically skilled freestyle wrestler with strong positional awareness, Thomson continues to compete at a high level internationally while helping elevate the daily training environment within the program. Thomson is a two-time Pan American medalist.

The Pennsylvania RTC is proud to support its athletes as they compete internationally and represent both their countries and the RTC community on one of the premier stages in Pan American wrestling.

PRTC Athletes Gain Global Experience on Training Trip to Japan

2025-09-17

The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) recently returned from an international training trip to Japan, where its athletes immersed themselves in both elite-level wrestling and Japanese culture. Over the course of a week, the team trained under the guidance of Olympic Champion Mitsuru Sato at two of Japan’s most prestigious wrestling institutions: Senshu University and Nippon Sports Science University.

The trip brought together top wrestling talent from both the United States and Japan, creating a rare opportunity to exchange techniques, share training philosophies, and build lasting friendships across cultures. For the PRTC athletes, the experience was both demanding and inspiring.

Each day featured three-hour practices that tested both body and mind. Workouts began with international warm-up drills before shifting into highly specific technical instruction, and each session included five to six full live matches per athlete. The intensity mirrored the standard of excellence long associated with Japanese wrestling.

PRTC Senior Athlete Darian Cruz, who is preparing for the 2025 Senior World Championships, reflected on the trip:

“From training with some of the best athletes in the sport of wrestling—in the entire world for that matter—to submerging in a culture of honor, discipline, and respect, I can speak for the group when I say we pushed our limits mentally, physically, and culturally. Not a single student-athlete on this trip had truly left the country. This experience will give the Quakers the kick start to a season that will ultimately result in the collection of our hardware come March! Again, thank you to all those who supported and continue to support the dreams and goals of these incredibly ambitious young men. This is just the beginning of what your support can provide.”

Beyond the mats, the athletes explored Japanese culture. They wandered through historic temples, tasted authentic ramen in tucked-away restaurants, and marveled at the energy of modern shopping districts. For many, it was their first time abroad, adding an invaluable layer of personal growth to the athletic experience.

Two-time NCAA All-American CJ Composto also shared his perspective:

“When I started wrestling at five years old, I never would've thought eighteen years later I’d go on a training trip to Japan with my best friends. All the opportunities I’ve received through wrestling with the PRTC have been a blessing.”

PRTC Chief Operating Officer Kevin McGuigan emphasized the importance of the trip:

“Training in Japan with Olympic Champion Mitsuru Sato and some of the world’s best athletes provides invaluable experience for our wrestlers. Opportunities like this accelerate their growth on and off the mat, and we’re grateful to our supporters who make them possible.”

The week in Japan was more than just training; it was an experience that blended wrestling, culture, and camaraderie—an international journey that will shape the PRTC athletes both as competitors and as individuals for years to come.

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.

Brandon Slay Moving On from Executive Director of the PRTC

2025-04-22

After more than eight years of transformative leadership, Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay will step down as Executive Director and Head Coach of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC). Slay and his family will relocate to Springdale, Arkansas this July, where he will take on a dual role as Executive Director of SportsLife Wrestling, a Christian-based leadership development organization, and Head Coach of the G1 Training Center, a new training facility focused on the development of youth, elite high school, and senior level wrestlers. Slay will immediately move on to the PRTC Board of Directors, continuing his service to the organization.

McKenna and McFadden Win Bronze in Poland with Teammate Mark Hall in the Corner.

2022-07-21

Warsaw, Poland – When the opportunity to coach his teammates in an international tournament presented itself, Senior Athlete Mark Hall jumped at the chance be in the corner for his friends. The volunteer assistant coach for the University of Pennsylvania already has a full season of folkstyle coaching on his resume. Hall is part of a staff that produced 9 NCAA National Qualifiers and an All-American in 2022. This would be Hall’s first time coaching at a senior level international event.

PRTC Executive Director Brandon Slay offered Hall the responsibility to coach his teammates, Joey McKenna and David McFadden, as they recently competed in the Poland Open. The tournament, held in Warsaw, Poland, features several top ranked international competitors. The three senior athletes made the 14 hour trip together and are coming home with two bronze medals.

“I had a lot of fun taking a leadership role on this trip,” says Hall. “I really tried to deepen my friendship with Dave and Joey and truly learn what they believe will make them better wrestlers.”

Joey McKenna earns Bronze at 65kg.

McKenna, competing at 65kg, went 3-1 on his way to winning third place. After dropping a close semi-final match to a talented Tsogbadrakh Tseveensuren of Mongolia, McKenna bounced back with a gritty 3-1 win over Krzysztoff Bienkowski in the bronze medal match. This is McKenna’s third international medal of the year. He placed third at the prestigious Yasar Dogu International in February and won the Pan American Championships in May.

David McFadden earns Bronze at 79kg.

At 79kg, McFadden went 3-1 outscoring his opponents 30-6 on the day. After defeating fellow American Alex Marinelli 10-0 in the quarterfinals, he lost to Vasyl Mykhaylov of Ukraine in the semi-finals. A quick 10-0 tech against Csaba Vida of Hungary in the third place match secured the bronze for McFadden who, like Hall, is also a collegiate coach. He is the volunteer assistant coach at Drexel University.

“We had a great trip!” Hall exclaimed. “I can’t wait to get back to competing alongside my teammates again.”

PRTC teammates David McFadden, Mark Hall, and Joey McKenna.

The full Poland Open PRTC Results…

65kg Joey McKenna, Bronze Medal

WIN Vasyl Shuptar, Ukraine, 10-0

WIN Nino Leutert, Switzerland, 9-2

LOSS Tsogbadrakh Tseveensuren, 1-2

WIN Krzysztof Bienkowski, Poland 3-1

79kg David McFadden, Bronze Medal

WIN Jose O’Neil, Angola, 10-0

WIN Alex Marinelli, USA, 10-0

LOSS Vasyl Mykhaylov, Ukraine, 6-0

WIN Csaba Vida, Hungary, 10-0

Story by Kevin McGuigan