PRTC Wrestling

Tyler Berger Wins Us Open!

2023-05-01

Las Vegas, NV – In a come-from-behind victory, Tyler Berger won the 70kg US National Championship last Friday evening at the prestigious and highly competitive US Open. This is the first National title for Berger as he has qualified to battle for the World Team spot at 70kg. He’ll compete against world medalist Zain Retherford at Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 10th in the Prudential Center. If he wins the best of three series, Berger will represent Team USA at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia this Fall.

In the final match, Berger defeated Sammy Sasso of the Ohio Regional Training Center with just eight seconds left on the clock. He was down by one point and utilized some recently learned skills to score a takedown as time ran out.

“We train this. We literally train this!” said Berger of the drill his coach, Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay, instituted into the team’s training plan. “Seven second goes, you’re down by one, go figure it out.” The crowd at South Point Hotel and Conference Center went wild as the Oregon native and current resident of Philadelphia scored the deciding points.

The PRTC was well represented at this year’s US Open. In addition to Berger, senior resident athletes Joey McKenna (65kg), David McFadden (79kg), and Mark Hall (86kg) all competed in Las Vegas. McKenna won a silver medal while McFadden and Hall each won a bronze medal. All three will be competing at Final X for a spot on the national team.

The top three competitors at each weight make the US National Team. The final spots are determined by a wrestle-off to find the true placings at each weight if the competitors did not wrestle each other at the US Open. McKenna will wrestle Matt Kolodzik, McFadden will wrestle Alex Dieringer, and Hall will wrestle Zahid Valencia.

World Champion Jordan Burroughs will look to secure his spot on the World Team at Final X as well. He will wrestle US Open Champion Chance Marstellar at 79kg. This will be a rematch of last year’s Final X where Burroughs won two matches to one and went on to win a record breaking 7th World/Olympic medal in Serbia.

Also competing at the Senior level in Las Vegas for the PRTC were four University of Pennsylvania underclassmen. Ryan Miller (57kg), Michael Colaiocco (65kg), CJ Composto (65kg), and Maximus Hale (86kg) all stepped up to take on the challenge of competing at the national level against some of the best athletes in the country. Hale finished in the top eight gaining All-American Status.

Drexel Assistant Coach CJ LaFragola competed as well. He battled to an impressive 3-2 record for the weekend just missing the medal round. LaFragola, a three time NCAA qualifier, is undefeated as an MMA fighter yet he continues to enter high level wrestling tournaments to hone his skills.

Michael Boykin, a graduate of NC State, has been training with the PRTC. He made the trip west with the team and competed at 92kg. Boykin, who has been a welcome addition to the room, routinely works out with the Penn and Drexel upper-weights as well as training with Mark Hall.

Here are the full US Open results for the PRTC Senior Level athletes:

57kg Ryan Miller, 1-2

WIN Fischer (Wolves), 12-0

LOSS Glory (NJRTC), 10-0

LOSS McGowant (Blairstown), (7-5)

61kg Michael Colaiocco, 1-2

LOSS Shriever (Iowa), 11-5

WIN Kuketz (SERTC), 10-0

LOSS Valencia (CART), 14-4

65kg CJ Composto, 2-2

WIN Cooley (Missouri), 10-0

WIN Gold (New York), 10-0

LOSS Henderson (LVWC), 16-6

LOSS Madrigal (Oklahoma) 13-3

65kg Joey McKenna, Silver Medalist 4-2

WIN Koderhandt (Navy), 10-0

WIN Pfanz (Mustang), 10-0

WIN Aschnault (NYCRTC), 10-0

WIN Lovett (SKWC), 8-3

LOSS Lee (NLWC), 10-5

70kg Tyler Berger, Champion 5-0

WIN Monseratt (NERTC), 12-2

WIN Flores (TMWC), 10-0

WIN Verkleeren (Cavalier), 12-1

WIN Hidlay (Wolfpack), 11-0

WIN Sasso (ORTC), 10-9

79kg David McFadden, Bronze Medalist 5-1

WIN Torres (Arizona), 10-0

WIN White (Indiana), 7-2

WIN Marinelli (HWC), 10-6

LOSS Marstellar (NYCRTC), 6-1

WIN Kemerer (Spartan RTC), 11-9

WIN Marinelli (HWC), 10-0

86kg Mark Hall, Bronze Medalist 5-1

WIN Tarantino (NERTC), FALL

WIN Verhaege (Kansas), 10-0

WIN Marcelli (Cavalier), 10-0

LOSS Brooks (NLWC), 6-1

WIN Morgan (Spartan RTC), 8-2

WIN Hidlay (Wolfpack), 13-2

86kg Maximus Hale, 8th Place 3-3

WIN Lords (Viking), 10-0

WIN Harman (Tiger), 5-5 criteria

LOSS Valencia (SKWC), 7-2

WIN Jessen (Wildcat), 11-0

LOSS Morgan (Spartan RTC), 11-7

LOSS Webster (Gopher), 4-0

86kg CJ LaFragola, 3-2

LOSS Verhaeghe (Kansas), 7-3

WIN Danals (Cavalier), 14-4

WIN Morgan (Gopher WC), 10-0

WIN Squires (New Jersey), 13-7

LOSS Stewart (Cavalier), 7-2

92kg Michael Boykin, 1-2

LOSS Stemmet (Illinois), 10-6

WIN Filsaime (SERTC), 11-0

LOSS Haas (CRTC), 12-2

Pictures by Tony Rotundo and Eleni Glynos

Story by Kevin McGuigan

Prtc Ready to Compete at Wtt Challenge Tournament

2022-05-18

McKenna, Zapf, McFadden, and Hall will wrestle for a spot in Final X.

Philadelphia, PA – The seeds are set as the PRTC heads west for the 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Executive Director and Head Coach Brandon Slay is optimistic about his team’s chances in Coralville, Iowa.

Joey McKenna, 65kg Senior Athlete

“With our four guys competing, two are the automatic #1 seeds,” says Slay of David McFadden(79kg) and Mark Hall(86kg) who each recently became Senior National Champions securing the top spots in their respective brackets. At 65kg, Joey McKenna is the #3 seed while Doug Zapf has secured the #5 seed at 70kg. McKenna is a recent Olympic Trials finalist. Zapf, an undergraduate student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, won bronze at the Senior Nationals a few weeks ago.

Doug Zapf, 70kg Senior Athlete

“I feel like we are precisely where we want to be,” Slay added. “However, seeds don’t make the World Team…Full Effort wrestling makes the World Team.” Winners of the Challenge Tournament will compete at Final X for the chance to make the 2022 USA World Team. The World Championships will be held this fall in Belgrade, Serbia.

David McFadden, 79kg Senior Athlete

The current training cycle has been a productive one for the PRTC. Over the last several weeks, athletes from both domestic and international clubs have made their way to Philadelphia for the opportunity to train with the team. French Team Leader Pais Didier recently brought several of his athletes to the city for a two week training camp. “We are thankful that the PRTC welcomed us into the room,” says Didier. “We wish the team much success in upcoming competitions!”

Mark Hall, 86kg Senior Athlete

PRTC Senior Athlete, and current World Champion at 79kg, Jordan Burroughs will be awaiting the results of this weekend’s competition. Burroughs, in lieu of his current World Champion status, has a spot in Final X. He will face the winner of the Challenge Tournament in a best 2 of 3 series on June 8th in New York City.

Since becoming the leader of the PRTC in 2016, Slay is keenly aware of what the program has become in his time. “Humbly, the PRTC is on an upward trajectory because of our Board, our generous donors, and, most importantly, our wrestlers who have fully committed to our mission and core values,” he said. “Here’s the deal…our guys can wrestle. They can scrap. Their skills continue to impress me…but more importantly, they are genuine dudes. They are servants who seek to treat others the way they want to be treated, which continues to inspire me to be the best leader I can be.”

Competition at the Challenge Tournament begins on Saturday May 21st for all competitors and continues through Sunday May 22nd. Matches on both days will begin at 11am EST and will be streamed live on FloWrestling. For the complete schedule, go to USA Wrestling.

Here are the current seeds for the PRTC weight classes:

65 kg

1 Kendric Maple Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

2 Yianni Diakomihalis Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC

3 Joseph McKenna Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC

4 Nick Lee Nittany Lion WC/TMWC

5 Matthew Kolodzik New York Athletic Club

6 Ian Parker Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC

7 Luke Pletcher Pittsburgh WC/TMWC

8 Evan Henderson Ohio RTC/TMWC

9 Patricio Lugo Hawkeye WC/TMWC

10 Dean Heil Oklahoma RTC/TMWC

11 Beau Bartlett Nittany Lion WC/TMWC

12 Carter Young Cowboy RTC/TMWC

13 Joshua Saunders Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC

70 kg

1 Alec Pantaleo Cliff Keen WC/TMWC

2 Ryan Deakin Wildcat WC/TMWC

3 Jordan Oliver Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

4 Zain Retherford Nittany Lion WC/TMWC

5 Doug Zapf Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC

6 Michael Blockhus Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC

7 Sam Sasso Ohio RTC/TMWC

8 Tyler Berger California RTC/TMWC

9 Anthony Ashnault New York Athletic Club

10 Dayne Morton Wolves Wrestling Club

11 Jarod Verkleeren Cavalier Wrestling Club

79 kg

1 David McFadden Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC

2 Vincenzo Joseph California RTC/TMWC

3 Alex Dieringer Cliff Keen WC/TMWC

4 Carter Starocci Nittany Lion WC/TMWC

5 Chance Marsteller Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)

6 Isaiah Martinez Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC/TMWC

7 Taylor Lujan Panther Wrestling Club RTC/TMWC

8 Nick Reenan Wolfpack WC/TMWC

9 Brayden Thompson Illinois

86 kg

1 Mark Hall Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC

2 Zahid Valencia Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

3 Pat Downey Florida

4 Trent Hidlay Wolfpack WC/TMWC

5 Drew Foster Panther Wrestling Club RTC

6 Marcus Coleman Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC

7 Owen Webster Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC

8 Caden Steffen Mustang Wrestling Club

9 Caleb Hopkins Buies Creek Wrestling Club

10 Julien Broderson Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC

11 Andrew Morgan Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC

Pictures by J. Mangan and T. Rotundo

Mcfadden And Hall Win National Championships

2022-05-01

Las Vegas, NV – “It was the best Senior National performance in PRTC history!” Executive Director and Head Coach Brandon Slay was happy that two of his full-time resident athletes each came away with a championship title on Saturday night at the US Open. “Mark Hall made history by becoming our first two-time US Open Champion while David McFadden won his first US Open title,” said Slay. “Also, Doug Zapf, a student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, beat an NCAA Champion and an NCAA Finalist on his way to an outstanding third place finish.”

With seconds left on the clock and losing to two-time NCAA Champion Vincenzo Joseph, McFadden scored the deciding points to capture his first US Senior National Title. The 7th seed at 79kg, McFadden worked his way through a talented field of veteran competitors. After dominating tech-fall victories in the first two rounds, he pinned two time NCAA Champion Isaiah Martinez in the quarter finals. He then defeated a very tough Chance Marstellar of the Annapolis RTC before claiming victory over Joseph, 8-6 in the finals.

Hall was nearly untouched in winning his second Senior National Championship at 86kg. Conceding just two points all weekend, he started the tournament with a pin followed by three consecutive tech-falls. “Takedown to turn was the key for Mark’s dominance,” said Slay. “I’m very proud of his commitment to turning his opponents after every takedown.” Hall outscored his opponents 36-2 on his journey towards winning gold.

Zapf, a junior at UPenn, competed for the first time since the NCAA Championships in March in Detroit. After winning his first round match at 70kg, he took on NCAA Champion and 2x Pan Am Champion, Anthony Ashnault of the Scarlet Knight Wrestling Club. He would defeat Ashnault 6-2, win his quarterfinal match, and meet another Pan Am Champion in the semi-finals. Zapf battled Alec Pantaleo of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club to a 3-2 loss. In the consolation semi-finals, Zapf would defeat NCAA Finalist Sammy Sasso of Ohio State enroute to a third place finish against Michael Blockhus of the Gopher WC.

According to Slay, “Doug will now join David, Mark, and Joey McKenna at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Coralville, Iowa on May 21-22, 2022.” McKenna will be competing at 65kg in Iowa. As the current World Champion, Jordan Burroughs has accepted his spot in Final X at 79kg. The winners of the Challenge Tournament will compete in Final X and a shot at representing Team USA at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia this coming Fall.

“The PRTC continues to fulfill our mission of enriching lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling,” Slay added. “Our next event is this week. Joey and Jordan will be competing for Team USA at the Pan American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico.”

In total, the PRTC had 14 competitors at the US Open. In addition to the three place-winners, Nick Incontrera(79kg), Mickey O’Malley(79kg), CJ LaFragola(86kg), and John Stout(86kg) also competed in the Senior Freestyle Division. Jake Hendricks(82kg) competed in the Senior Greco-Roman Division.

At the U20 Level, Kelly Dunnigan(61kg), Kyle Hauserman(65kg), Aboubakare Diaby(74kg), Tate Nichter(74kg), John Janda(79kg), and Josh LaBarbera(86kg) represented the PRTC in the Freestyle Division. LaBarbera also competed in U20 Greco-Roman at 87kg.

Full PRTC US Open Results:

SENIOR FREESTYLE

David McFadden, 79kg, 1st Place

WIN Mason Reiniche, (Beaver Dam RTC), 11-0

WIN Quentin Perez, (California RTC), 14-4

WIN Isaiah Martinez, (Beaver Dam RTC), FALL

WIN Chance Marstellar, (Annapolis RTC), 11-10

WIN Vincenzo Joseph, (California RTC), 8-6

Mark Hall, 86kg, 1st Place

WIN Gavin Kane, (Tar Heel WC), FALL

WIN Julien Broderson, (Iowa), 12-2

WIN Caden Steffen, (Mustang WC), 10-0

WIN Marcus Coleman, (Iowa), 10-0

Doug Zapf, 70kg, 3rd Place

WIN Cameron Harrell, (Maryland), 11-3

WIN Anthony Ashnault, (Scarlet Knight WC), 6-2

WIN Michael Blockhus, (Gopher WC), 5-4

LOSS Alec Pantaleo, (Cliff Keen WC), 2-3

WIN Sammy Sasso, (Ohio RTC), 10-9

WIN Michael Blockhus, (Gopher WC), 4-1

Nick Incontrera, 79kg

LOSS Evan Wick, (Southern California RTC), 2-8

WIN Antonio Washington, Jr, (Bluff City WC), 10-0

WIN Quentin Perez, (California RTC), 16-15

WIN Jacen Peterson, (Mountain Man WC), 10-0

LOSS Alex Dieringer, (Cliff Keen WC), 0-11

Mickey O’Malley, 79kg

WIN Jamal Morris, (Ft. Lauderdale WC), 10-5

LOSS Brayden Thompson, (Illinois), 1-9

WIN Tytus Coombs, (CSU Pueblo WC), 10-0

LOSS Isaiah White, (Sunkist Kids WC), 5-7

Christian LaFragola, 86kg

WIN Hunter Johns, (Ohio), 6-2

LOSS Owen Webster, (Gopher WC), 0-10

WIN Jason Bynarowicz, (Colorado Mesa WC), 12-8

WIN Kohl Drake, (Alpha Pack Wrestling), 11-0

LOSS Julien Broderson, (Iowa), 5-7

John Stout, 86kg

WIN Hunter Tobiasson, (Colorado), 9-6

LOSS Julien Broderson, (Iowa), 6-18

WIN Cris Perales, (Texas Style WC), 10-0

LOSS Gavin Kane, (Tar Heel WC), 5-12

SENIOR GRECO-ROMAN

Jake Hendricks, 82kg

WIN Jamal Morris, (Cardinal Gibbons HS), 8-0

LOSS Tommy Brackett, (Tennessee), 4-9

WIN Javier Gomez, (Montwood HS), Injury

WIN Dracius McKee, (Spartan Mat Club), 10-1

LOSS Jacob Fisher, (Curby 3 Style WC), 0-9

U20 FREESTYLE

Kelly Dunnigan, 61kg

WIN Ethan Qureshi, (California), 8-4

WIN Alex Flerage, (Missouri), 10-0

LOSS Nic Bouzakis, (Pennsylvania), 0-10

WIN Cooper Birdwell, (Cowboy RTC), 4-2

LOSS Carter Bailey, (Lehigh Valley WC), 2-12

Kyle Hauserman, 65kg

LOSS Zachary Redding, (New York), 4-9

LOSS Joshua Koderhandt, (Illinois), 4-5

Aboubakare Diaby, 74kg

LOSS Charlie Stuhl, (Twin Cities RTC), 0-10

LOSS Clayton Ulrey, (Southeast RTC), 0-10

Tate Nichter, 74kg

WIN Warren Koslow, (John Marshall Fundamental WC), 13-1

LOSS Jack Thomsen, (Jackrabbit WC), 6-17

WIN Malaiki Owens, (Texas WC), 10-0

LOSS Matthew Lackman, (Steel Mat Club), 0-10

Jack Janda, 79kg

LOSS Rocco Welsh, (Young Guns WC), 0-10

WIN Ryker Permann, (American Falls WC), 3-0

WIN Ben Robuck, (Colorado Mesa WC), 14-7

LOSS Drew Clearie, (Pennsylvania), 0-6

Josh LaBarbera, 86kg

WIN Luke Isaak, (Arizona), 10-0

WIN Chase Mielnik, (DMV RTC), 13-2

LOSS Gabe Sollars, (Maurer Coughlin WC), 2-13

LOSS Fernando Villaescusa, (Cyclone RTC), 0-13

U20 GRECO-ROMAN

Josh LaBarbera, 86kg

LOSS Ryan Cody, (Greco-Roman Development), 0-9

LOSS Deanthony Parker, (Illinois), 1-7

Pictures courtesy of Levi Ventura/Titan Mercury Wrestling Club

Joey Mckenna Qualifies for U.s. Olympic Trials; Places Second at Senior Nationals

2019-12-23

Joey McKenna of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials at 65g after placing second at U.S. Senior Nationals this past weekend.

McKenna was dominant throughout the tournament. After winning his first three matches 29-3, he earned a spot in the semifinals against Yianni Diakomihalis and the opportunity to avenge his controversial loss at last year’s NCAA finals. The match went back and forth before McKenna scored a dramatic last second takedown to win the match 6-5.

McKenna dropped his finals match to Jordan Oliver, who was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

PRTC athletes Ethan Lizak, Mauro Correnti, and Dan Vallimont also wrestled at the tournament. Competing at 65g, Lizak went 3-2. At 125K Correnti went 1-2 with a big win over 2019 Dave Schultz International Champion Michael Kosoy, and Vallimont lost two close matches to finish 0-2 at 74g.

Joey McKenna will next compete at the prestigious Yarigan Tournament in Krasnoyarsk, Russia at the end of January. The rest of the team will look to compete in the Henri Deglane International in Nice, France at the end of January followed by the Last Chance US Olympic Trials Qualifier March 26-28 in Millersville, PA.

The Olympic Trials will be April 4-5 in State College, PA.