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