PRTC Wrestling

Jordan Burroughs Earns World Team Spot and Reflects on His Impact at Beat The Streets

2022-06-21

June 21, 2022 – Two weeks have passed since Final X fans from across the country gathered in awe at Madison Square Garden to watch PRTC resident athlete Jordan Burroughs earn his way onto an 11th World Team. This is no ordinary feat—to make a US World Team and secure the opportunity to compete for a World Championship year after year, 11 times. It is a task only legends are capable of achieving. Burroughs is just that, one of the greatest to ever take to the mat. An Olympic champion who also holds five World titles, eight World/Olympic medals, a 69-match winning streak, Burroughs seems to have evolved as much as the sport itself over the past 11 years.

Jordan Burroughs, 79kg for Team USA.

What’s more impressive than Burroughs’ achievements and performances on the mat, which included two dominant and strategic wins against Chance Marstellar of the NYC RTC in a best-of-three series, is the interview after Jordan’s victory. A man who has so many accomplishments and yet, is a humble and wise individual. Burroughs spoke more of the PRTC coaching staff and his support system, than he did of himself.

While reflecting on his performance, Burroughs was asked about the Beat the Streets program. Beat the Streets NYC held their annual gala in collaboration with the Final X event. The PRTC works alongside BTS Philly in an effort to mentor and guide underserved youth through the sport of wrestling, “We work very closely with BTS Philadelphia now, a derivative of BTS National. They do a phenomenal job of raising money and keeping kids off the streets and out of trouble in underserved areas,” Jordan explained. He has spent years partnered with Beat the Streets in an effort to grow support around the program that serves nearly 9,000 youth from 37+ cities annually.

At first a clinician and now a mentor, Burroughs added, “When you really start to work with these kids daily, and when you really recognize the difficulties they are going through on an everyday basis; what they go home to, how difficult their lives are, my job now is less wrestling and more mentorship. I am trying to be a father figure to these individuals. They go home to a fatherless home, with five younger siblings, in a parental role at 15-16 years of age. They are dealing with real problems—danger on the streets, possible incarceration, tempted by drugs daily. There are a lot of things these kids deal with that we are trying to combat. The sport of wrestling is great for that because it teaches character development unlike any sport in the world.”

Coach Brandon Slay attends to

Jordan Burroughs between periods at Final X.

Burroughs attributes his strength as a leader to the sport of wrestling. He adds that his role as a mentor, alongside the roles of his PRTC teammates and coaches, is one that has the ability and power to break generational patterns plagued by broken homes and a lack of encouragement and parental support. “I have a civic duty to the public and to the people who follow me. I want to encourage and motivate individuals I spend time with at all BTS locations.” It is clear, Burroughs does just that as all of his PRTC teammates have shared. David McFadden notes, “When Jordan talks, the room grows silent and we listen to every word, every piece of advice, and word of wisdom he shares.” Led by Coach Brandon Slay, the PRTC athletes all demonstrate the desire to live out the core values on which the organization was founded: Faith over fear, full effort, struggle well, and last but certainly not least, to serve others.

Burroughs will represent Team USA at 79kg in Belgrade, Serbia September 10-18, 2022.

Story by Gina Perry

Pictures by Aaron Morekin and Tony Rotundo

Joey McKenna and Mark Hall Qualify For National Team at 2022 World Team Trials

2022-05-23

Coralville, Iowa – The 2022 USA World Team Trials Challenge Tournament concluded on Sunday with the PRTC placing in three of the four weight classes where they had entered athletes. As a team, the PRTC placed sixth overall against some of the top RTCs in the country. The tournament, held in Extreme Arena, is the precursor to Final X, the last competition to decide the 2022 USA World Team scheduled to compete at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia later this year.

Doug Zapf, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, represented the PRTC in his first ever senior level World Team Trials tournament. He went 1-2 on the weekend at 70kg against a tough field of former NCAA All-Americans, National Champions, and seasoned senior level competitors.

PRTC senior resident athletes Joey McKenna, David McFadden, and Mark Hall each battled their way through tough competition to gain placing. The top three finishers in each weight class qualify for National Team status. McKenna placed third while Hall placed second. McFadden fell short of qualifying with a fourth place finish.

Hall, competing at 86kg, lost in the best of three final match series to Zahid Valencia of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Valencia will move on to Final X to compete against David Taylor (NLWC) for the World Team spot. This puts Hall at 3rd on the competitor ladder but still qualifies him for National Team status.

After losing his opening round match, McKenna battled back in dominating fashion to place third at 65kg. He went 4-1 on the weekend while out scoring his opponents 52-8. His placing puts McKenna on his third US National Team. He was a member of the 2018-19 team and is on the current 2021-22 team.

McFadden went 2-2 at 79kg. He started the tournament with a tech fall before losing to eventual champion Chance Marstellar (TMWC) 5-2 in the semi-finals. McFadden started his comeback with a dominating win over two time NCAA Champion Isaiah Martinez (BDRTC) before losing the third place match to Carter Starocci(NLWC). Marstellar will move on to Final X and compete against the PRTC’s Jordan Burroughs for the world team spot. Burroughs is the current World Champion at 79kg.

Below are the full results for the PRTC.

65kg Joey McKenna, 4-1, 3rd Place

LOSS Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC) 5-8

WIN Joshua Saunders (Spartan RTC) 10-0

WIN Patricio Lugo (Hawkeye WC) 10-0

WIN Nick Lee (NLWC) 13-3

WIN Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC) 11-0

70kg Doug Zapf, 1-2

LOSS Zain Retherford (NLWC) 1-4

WIN Jarod Verkleeren (Cavalier WC) 5-0

LOSS Tyler Berger (CAL/TMWC) 0-7

79kg David McFadden, 2-2, 4th Place

WIN Braden Thompson (Illinois) 10-0

LOSS Chance Marstellar (TMWC) 2-5

WIN Isaiah Martinez (BDRT) 14-7

LOSS Carter Starocci (NLWC) 2-10

86kg Mark Hall, 2-2, 2nd Place

WIN Caleb Hopkins (BCWC) 10-0

WIN Drew Foster (Panther WC) FALL

LOSS Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids WC) 0-6

LOSS Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids WC) 0-10

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