PRTC Wrestling

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.

Happy Holidays From the Prtc!

2022-12-26

As 2022 comes to an end and we enjoy the holiday season, we want to take a moment to thank our supporters for helping us with another year of successful accomplishments. There is so much to be thankful for this past year. All of which would not be possible without you.

If you have not yet taken the opportunity to support the PRTC, please consider a year end donation to help us continue to do all the wonderful things shared below.

Donate Now

Our Year in Review…

We began the year hosting Summit 3. Several international events were canceled around this time. So, we made the effort to provide some competition at the senior level. Coaches and athletes from around the country and internationally traveled to South Jersey to participate in this live streamed event. Mark and David represented the PRTC at Summit 3 while coming away with two wins each and going undefeated for the day. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to serve others while competing.

Mark and David would go on to win US Open Championships in Las Vegas in April. This was Mark’s second National Championship in a row and David’s first major tournament win at the senior level. Doug Zapf, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, won a bronze medal as well.

In May, Joey and Jordan each won Pan Am Championships in Acapulco, Mexico. This was Joey’s second time and Jordan’s fifth time winning Pan Am Gold. Jordan outscored his opponents 40-1 during the tournament.

Also in May, Joey and Mark each placed third in the World Team Trials establishing themselves on the US National Team. This is the first time Mark made the Senior National Team. Joey is now a three time National Team member.

Our partners at both Drexel and Penn traveled to Ohio in June for the U23/U20 Freestyle/Greco National Championships. A combined group of 32 athletes and several coaches made the trip to Geneva for this high level competition. With every athlete representing the PRTC, we came home with 7 All-Americans.

Also in June, Jordan competed in Final X in New York City. In an exciting match-up with Chance Marstellar at 79kg, Jordan won to make his 11th World Team.

In July, Joey and David traveled to Warsaw, Poland with Mark to compete in the Poland Open. Mark served as coach helping Joey and David each win silver medals in this prestigious international competition.

Tyler Berger joined the PRTC in August. In an effort to build our team and provide higher level training partners, we are grateful to have Tyler in Philly.

Competing at 70kg for the US National Team, Tyler is a perfect addition to our team and our culture. He and his wife, Sydnee, have comfortably settled in the city and now call Philadelphia their home.

In September, Jordan won his 7th World/Olympic gold medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. With this win, Jordan has more championship gold medals than any US wrestler in history. This is his second World Championship while training at the PRTC.

Also in September, the PRTC became the host of the prestigious Keystone Classic. Created by Coach Roger Reina over 26 years ago, the Keystone Classic is a premier early season NCAA tournament held on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in the Palestra. As host, the PRTC has added valuable revenue generating opportunities.

In October, Tyler and Joey traveled to Kazakhstan for the Kunayev DA international tournament. Both senior athletes won silver medals and cash prizes for their efforts. This was Tyler’s first international competition ever.

At the Keystone Classic in November, Jordan held a wrestling clinic between sessions. Hundreds of young wrestlers and fans of all ages showed up to support and learn from one of America’s greatest athletes. It was a great experience for all involved.

The final event of the year was the World Cup which was held in Coralville, Iowa this December. Jordan and Tyler represented the United States in the competition. Their efforts helped Team USA win the men’s freestyle team championship.

As we continue into 2023, our mission of enriching lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling stays our main priority. We continue to do this by adhering to our core values of faith over fear, full effort, struggle well, and serve others. Click on the link below to listen as our senior athletes discuss our four core values.

PRTC Core Values

We thank you, again, for your continued support of the PRTC!

Jordan Burroughs Wins 7th Gold To Make History

2022-09-21

Community and legacy are on his mind after record setting performance.

Philadelphia, Pa. – Last weekend, the PRTC’s Jordan Burroughs became the first American wrestler to win seven gold medals at the World/Olympic level. Surpassing Six Time Gold Medalists Adeline Gray and John Smith, Burroughs has become, arguably, the greatest of all time in USA wrestling history.

For the second year in a row, Burroughs defeated Mohammad Nokhodilarimi of Iran. Behind 1-0 after the first period, Burroughs quickly scored a push out to tie it up. A shot to finish secured a takedown giving him a 3-1 lead. Nokhodilarimi pushed back with a late step out score to close the gap but Burroughs would hold off for the 4-2 victory.

This is the second World Championship title for Burroughs since moving to Philadelphia in the Summer of 2021 to train with the PRTC.

“Philly is everything I could have ever imagined as a training location,” said Burroughs. “Great partners, amazing leadership, and a community that truly loves the sport. There has been so much encouragement from the Drexel and Penn family to help prepare me to take on the world, and to celebrate my success after victories.”

Three of Burroughs’ teammates were also in Belgrade, Serbia for the World Championships. New PRTC senior athlete Tyler Berger was Burroughs’ main training partner leading up to the event. Joey McKenna helped prepare USA 61kg Seth Gross. David McFadden traveled with the team from San Marino as 86kg Myles Amine’s training partner.

“As a team, we were all focused on maximizing Jordan and Team USA’s performance,” said PRTC Executive Director and Head Coach Brandon Slay. “Joey, Tyler, and David also benefited from being training partners and servant leaders.”

PRTC senior athletes Mark Hall and Richard Perry stayed in Philly to coach U23 and Developmental practices while the team traveled. Hall is also the volunteer assistant coach at Penn. Serving others, a core value of the PRTC, is deeply rooted in the local wrestling ecosystem.

“Jordan’s record setting performance breathes life into the entire wrestling community and way beyond,“ said Slay. “His faith, full effort, and fortitude will continue to blaze a path for wrestlers from the PRTC, Penn, Drexel, Beat the Streets Philly, and a myriad of age group wrestlers all around the greater Philadelphia area.”

The PRTC practices at both the Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania training facilities in West Philadelphia. The Beat the Streets Mentoring Center is located between the two. Burroughs lives in the city and often brings his family with him to practice. He frequently volunteers his time with the underserved youth of Beat the Streets.

“I desire the legacy of this World Championship to be tied to representation,” he said. “In a sport with many heroes, but few of color, I get to be the standard now for which all young brown men and women hope to achieve someday. It’s an honor.”

Burroughs will next compete with Team USA at the 2022 World Cup to be held in Coralville, Iowa on December 10th and 11th.

Photos by Levi Ventura

Story by Kevin McGuigan

PRTC Launches World Championships Silent Auction

2022-09-14

Autographed photos and fan packs up for bid and raffle as Jordan Burroughs and Team USA compete in Serbia.

Philadelphia, Pa – In an effort to raise awareness of their mission to enrich lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling, the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center has launched a silent auction during the UWW World Championships this week. Autographed photos of the Senior Athletes and fan gift packs will be offered for bid and raffle until Sunday, September 19th at 9pm.

Gina Perry, wife of PRTC Senior Athlete Richard Perry, has organized the fundraising event through Click Bid, an online auction site. “Obviously, I’m a big fan of the PRTC!” says Perry. “I know there are a lot of other PRTC fans out there who would want an autographed photo of their favorite wrestler. Plus, the fan packs are pretty awesome as well!”

The online auction aligns with the PRTC’s Ambassador Campaign which started in 2021 as a means to raise funds for the 501c3 non-profit organization.

The Ambassador Campaign is a fundraising effort to help further expand the PRTC’s impact. The goal is to raise an additional $1,000,000 over the next 5 years for the PRTC. The campaign committee chose the title “Ambassador Campaign” as a tribute to Benjamin Franklin and what he represented as a treasured American icon.

The additional income from the Ambassador Campaign will help the PRTC continue to support the senior athletes with training, housing, sustainable income, injury prevention care, and healthcare insurance coverage. With increased funding, the PRTC will be able to expand its reach in helping to develop future leaders through developmental training, community outreach, and coaching initiatives.

The World Championships will be held from September 10-18. PRTC Senior Athlete Jordan Burroughs is competing for Team USA at 79kg and is on pace to break the US record of six World/Olympic Gold Medals. Winning in Serbia will put Burroughs on top with seven. He is currently tied with US legends John Smith and Adeline Gray.

The link for the PRTC World Championship Silent Auction can be found here.

Story by Kevin McGuigan

Former U.S. World Team wrestler Richard Perry hosts free clinics in Middletown

2022-07-17

MIDDLETOWN, July 13, 2022 — More than a half dozen fans at the edge of the wrestling surface were running and creating a breeze but it was still hot and steamy at the Overcomer Training Center on Wednesday night.

But the blue and white mat was crowded with youngsters and a few high school wrestling coaches listening to the accumulated wrestling wisdom of Middletown High graduate Richard Perry, who hosted a three-hour clinic at OTC.

It was the second of three free clinics by Perry at OTC. There was also a clinic on Monday and Thursday night.

There are plenty of summer wrestling clinics but there few that are free and even fewer that feature a former member of the U.S. national team.

“The kids around here don’t really know (about Perry),” said Mark Fong, owner of OTC and the former wrestling coach that finally talked Perry into coming out for the sport as a junior at Middletown High. “There are probably no people on this planet that have thrown David Taylor for five (points) and scored four (points) on Kyle Dake in one move. No one in the world is doing that and he is (Perry) is sitting right here.”

Taylor is an Olympic and world champion while Dake won four NCAA championships at Cornell.

Perry did little sitting on Wednesday night with his Pennsylvania RTC (Regional Training Center) shirt drenched in sweat. He demonstrated moves and technique and moved throughout the room offering suggestions and guidance to the young wrestlers on the mat.

“This training center is special to me because my high school coach Mark Fong started it,” Perry said. “It is really important for me to come back to the community that raised me as an athlete and a student as well.”

Richard Perry instructs wrestlers from across the state at a clinic at the Overcomer Training Center in Middletown on a Wednesday. Perry was a student at Middletown High where he wrestled for two seasons under Fong, who had been trying to get him to wrestle for several years. As a senior in 2008, he won the Class L and State Open title at 215 pounds and was second in New England.

He wrestled at Bloomsburg State, won over 100 matches, won an Eastern Wrestling League title at 197 pounds in 2014 and wrestled in the NCAA Division I tournament three times.

In 2018, he finished second at the U.S. Open for the second time and earned a spot on the U.S. national team. But he was injured in a serious training camp accident in San Diego in August 2018 and didn’t get a chance to compete at the world championships that year.

Perry was involved in a drill with foam-padded clubs. He took a shot to the face and the foam protection dislodged. The baton slipped through a hole in his facemask and struck him the eye, causing trauma to the brain. After he was hurt, Perry was unable to work, talk or eat on his own.

He has spent the last few years rebuilding his life. “I had to learn to walk again, talk again. I was like a baby,” Perry said. “I had to relearn everything. And that was before wrestling (again). I had to learn to move the left side (of my body).”

Today, he is working out four days a week with his teammates at Pennsylvania RTC in Philadelphia. “I am very thankful. So, I am training full time trying to get back to where I was before,” he said.

Part of his work is giving clinics. He works with Beat the Streets and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). And he was thrilled to sharing his wrestling knowledge in Middletown.

“Having the time and the opportunity to come back up here and share this great sport of wrestling with the community that raised me is very important to me and my family as well,” said Perry, now 32.

Former U.S. World Team member Richard Perry, center, helps two youngsters during a free clinic at Overcomer Training Center in Middletown on Wednesday night. Pete Veleas, the coach at Berlin High, was in the room Wednesday night. Like most coaches around the state, he received an email invitation from Fong to attend a training session with Perry.

“He is showing simple things that work at a high level,” Veleas said. “He is a (U.S.) world team member. I can go back to my high school team and say this (technique) works against the best guys in the world.

“I only live 20 minutes away so if I don’t take advantage of this, I am an idiot,” he cracked with a smile. “A world team member giving a clinic in Middletown is really something. These kids don’t realize how special he is and that is why I am here. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to see this.”

There was a one-hour youth clinic for youngsters followed by a two-hour workout for older wrestlers. Some younger wrestlers stayed all three hours.

Brooke Dixon, a 10-year-old from South Windsor, and her brother attended the entire workout. Brooke’s father, Jon, came with workout clothes, too. “He was showing us the basics and stuff I didn’t know, which was good to know,” Brooke said.

“He is just here for a week to visit and catch up,” Fong said. “But while he is here, he is able to do these awesome clinics and spread the word (about wrestling). Hopefully, he reaches some kid the same way I was able to reach him.”

Thirty Two Prtc U23 Athletes Ready to Compete for World Team Spots

2022-06-03

Geneva, Ohio – The PRTC has entered a record number of athletes into the 2022 U23 World Team Trials. Thirty two student-athletes from Penn and Drexel have traveled west along with six PRTC coaches in an effort to qualify for a World Team.

This national event, held at the Spire Institute located near Cleveland, is a competition to earn a spot on the 2022 USA U23 World Team. The U23 World Championships will be held in Pontevedra, Spain in October. The top placewinner at each weight class in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman will represent Team USA.

Coaches LaFragola and Parker with Mickey O’Malley.

Drexel University, led by Head Coach Matt Azevedo and Assistant Coaches Scotty Parker, and CJ LaFragola, have entered 14 athletes in the Freestyle division. Leading the way for the Dragons is 2021 U23 World Team Trials Finalist, Mickey O’Malley. In 2020, O’Malley won the Junior Freestyle Nationals. He’ll be competing at 79kg this weekend.

The University of Pennsylvania has also entered 14 athletes in this prestigious weekend long event. Penn’s Associate Head Coach Bryan Pearsall and Assistant Coach B.J. Futrell will have some extra work ahead of them as three of the Penn athletes have entered in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Ryan Miller, 2021 Pan American Silver Medalist.

Topping the list of talent for the Quakers, Michael Colaiocco(61kg) is a 2020 Finalist in U23 Freestyle, Ryan Miller(57kg) is a 2021 Junior Freestyle Finalist and Pan American Championship Silver Medalist, and Jake Hendricks(86kg/82kg) is a multiple time All-American in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman.

In addition to current local student-athletes, the PRTC will be represented by a few incoming freshman student-athletes. Sean Seefeldt(57kg), Nico Nardone(61kg), and Kyle Hauserman(65kg) have all made the trip to Geneva. Seefeldt, a native of Ohio and local fan favorite, is a 2021 USA Wrestling Central Regional Champion.

Senior Athlete and Former National Team Member Richard Perry will be coaching the PRTC this weekend.

Senior Athlete Richard Perry, a 2018 Senior World Team Trials Finalist, will be coaching this weekend alongside the Drexel and Penn coaches. Also, joining the PRTC coaching staff for the first time will be Doug Zapf. Zapf recently placed third at the 2022 Senior US Nationals. He’ll be coaching his teammates and training partners throughout the tournament as they seek to qualify for a trip to the World Championships.

All matches will be streamed live on FloWrestling. Wrestling begins at 10am EST on Friday June 3rd.

Below is the list of all PRTC participating athletes:

Freestyle:

57kg Antonio Mininno

57kg Desmond Pleasant

57kg Ryan Miller

57kg Sean Seefeldt

61kg Kyle Waterman

61kg Michael Colaiocco

61kg Lukas Richie

61kg Nico Nardone

65kg Deon Pleasant

65kg Kelly Dunnigan

65kg Carmen Ferrante

65kg Kyle Hauserman

70kg Gabe Onorato

70kg Vince Mannella

74kg Riley Onorato

74kg Tate Nichter

74kg Tanner Updegraff

74kg Jeremy Ridge

74kg Cole Spencer

79kg Mickey O’Malley

79kg Cody Walsh

79kg Jack Janda

79kg Nick Incontrera

79kg Jake Stefanowicz

86kg Josh Stillings

86kg Neil Antrassian

86kg Max Hale

86kg Jake Hendricks

86kg Jesse Martinez

92kg Cole Urbas

125kg Joe Timm

125kg Eli Anthony

Greco-Roman:

72kg Jeremy Ridge

77kg Jake Stefanowicz

82kg Jake Hendricks

Coaching Staff:

Matt Azevedo

Scotty Parker

CJ LaFragola

Bryan Pearsall

B.J. Futrell

Richard Perry

Doug Zapf

Richard Perry Injured in Accident; Please Help

2018-08-31

Statement from USA Wrestling: USA Wrestling elite athlete Richard Perry was seriously injured on Monday while training with the USA Wrestling National Team in California. He is currently undergoing medical treatment in San Diego, and out of respect for Mr. Perry and his family, USA Wrestling will not release any information concerning the specific injury, his condition, or his ongoing medical treatment.

“Richard is one of the best wrestlers in the country and the entire USA Wrestling family was saddened by this unfortunate accident. We know and appreciate the widespread interest in his condition, and ask that you join us in standing by Richard’s side through his treatment and recovery. We have sent USA Wrestling staff to attend to his family’s immediate needs. Richard’s family and USA Wrestling have been gratified by the immediate and generous response by the wrestling community to collect resources to help him through this difficult time. We encourage all of our friends and constituents to continue to keep Richard and his family in their thoughts and prayers.”

– Bruce Baumgartner, USA Wrestling President

You can read the entire article here.

A Go-Fund-Me site has been created by friends of the Perry family, who are seeking support for Richard’s family for expenses related to the accident.

And our friends at Rudis have kindly created shirts to support Richard in this difficult time. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Perry family.

PRTC Has Strong Showing at World Team Trials, Futrell Makes National Team

2017-06-12

The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center compiled a solid 8-4 record this weekend at the World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska. The highlight of the weekend was B.J. Futrell taking 2nd in the trials tournament (third overall at the weight class) and earning a spot on the National Team.

B.J. opened the tournament at 65 kg with two tight wins, 4-3 over Cowboy Wrestling Club’s Dean Heil, and a thrilling 6-5 victory over Titan Mercury’s Evan Henderson. In the trials tournament finals, B.J. fell to the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club’s Zain Retherford, who went on to make the world team. B.J. closed out his tournament with an 8-2 win over Titan Mercury’s Nick Dardanes to secure true second and a spot on the national team.

At 70 kg Chase Pami won his first match over Titan Mercury’s Jason Chamberlain 3-2. He dropped his next match in the semifinals to Nazar Kulchytskyy also of Titan Mercury. In the consolations he dominated Dylan Ness of the Minnesota Storm 9-1. He lost his next bout in the consolation finals to Jason Nolf of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

Richard Perry defeated Josh Asper of the Navy Marine Corps RTC in his opening bout at 86 kg. In the semifinals he lost to Nick Heflin out of the Princeton Wrestling Club. In the consolation rounds he defeated Cowboy Wrestling Club’s Kyle Crutchmer 9-3 and then pinned Titan Mercury Wrestling Club’s Austin Trotman in a beautiful cradle to take third place.

Overall, all 3 competing PRTC wrestlers left the trials ranked top 5 in the nation in their weight class.

World Team Trials' Brackets Released

2017-06-10

Pennsylvania Regional Training Center members, B.J. Futrell, Chase Pami, and Richard Perry will be competing to make their first World Team tomorrow in Lincoln, Nebraska. In order to do so, each wrestler will have to battle their way through a mini tournament and then face a well rested opponent in the finals in a best two out of three series. The wrestlers waiting in the finals earned their spots by winning Olympic medals in 2016 or winning the 2017 U.S. Open.

At 65 kg, B.J. Futrell is the second seed. In his opening match he will face 2x NCAA champion, Dean Heil, from Oklahoma State. If he makes it to the trial tournament finals he will most likely face 2x NCAA champion and last year’s Dan Hodge award winner, Zain Retherford from Penn State. Waiting in the finals is 2016 Olympian, Frank Molinaro, formerly of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and now training out of Virginia Tech. B.J. is currently ranked 10th in the world, and has not yet wrestled the unranked Retherford or the 11th ranked Molinaro.

At 70 kg, Chase Pami earned the 3rd seed and will face freestyle veteran, Jason Chamberlain in his opening bout. The top seed in the bracket, Jimmy Kennedy, is bumped up from 65 kg where he competed in the US Open. Chase took third at the open only losing to Tommy Gannt, who will have to beat second seed Nazar Kulchytskyy in order to force a rematch. Waiting in the finals is 2015 World bronze medalist, James Green from the Nebraska RTC who is currently ranked 4th in the world.

Richard Perry earned the 2nd seed at 86 kg. Waiting in the best 2 out of 3 series is 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, J’Den Cox. Cox, who wrapped up his third NCAA title this past season at Missouri, is ranked 5th in the world. In order to reach him, Richard will have to defeat Nittany Lion Wrestling Club’s two time NCAA Champion and Hodge Trophy winner, David Taylor. Taylor, who is ranked 5th in the world, will be a tough test, as he has beaten Richard at both the Paris Grand Prix and the U.S. Open. That being said Richard gave him his toughest match of the year, which includes Taylor’s wins over World and Olympic gold medalists.

The action will off on Flowresting at 11 AM eastern time and will conclude around 4. The best 2 out of 3 series will start at 6 pm. Be sure to follow along on twitter for updates @pennsylvaniartc.

All Three Prtc Athletes Place at Us Open

2017-05-01

This weekend, all three PRTC athletes wrestling in the US open earned a spot on the podium. At 70 kg, Chase Pami took third, at 74 kg, Dan Vallimont took eighth, and at 86 kg, Richard Perry placed second.

Pami accomplished the Herculean task of battling back from a first round loss to Tommy Gantt to take third place. In the consolation bracket he reeled of seven straight wins, including avenging his loss to Gantt. In the third place match he defeated National Champion, Jason Nolf, 12-6.

Vallimont started off the tournament with two 10-0 tech falls before dropping a decision to Olympic gold medalist, Jordan Burroughs. He won a match in the consolations to secure himself a top 8 placement before dropping matches to two-time National Champion, Chris Perry and Chance Marsteller.

Perry went 4-1 on the day, teching his first two opponents 10-0, and beating National Champion Bo Nickal in the semifinals before falling to David Taylor in the finals.

Overall the PRTC had a solid performance that they will be looking to build upon at the World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska this June.

Check out Richard and Chase’s big wins below. (Flowrestling subscription needed)

Richard Perry over Bo Nickal

Chase Pami over Jason Nolf