May ’09, Bethlehem, PA: LVAC Athlete-in-Training Matt Valenti (at rt) created an interesting story this Spring about unique wrestling relationships. He’s a U. of Penn grad finishing grad school at Columbia, where he has served as their assistant coach. Until May, he was ranked by USA Wrestling under the aegis of the NYAC, one of the country’s top supporters of wrestling.

But, since travel funds can be hard to come by in any economy, Valenti welcomed LVAC financial support to compete in the U.S. National Open in April in Las Vegas. The Club funded his successful trip, where he earned a personal freestyle high – a 3rd place behind Olympian Mike Zadick and runner-up, Shawn Bunch. The trip moved Matt from 6th to 3rd in USA Wrestling rankings. By this time, he’d enjoyed three EIWA wrestling programs in the past three years.

Valenti’s next trip supported by LVAC was the 5/31 U.S. World Team Trials, where he was seeded 2nd in the Challenge Tourney and finished 4th (2-2 w/l). He split bouts with Reece Humphrey, Ohio State’s NCAA 2nd this

year. In Rd 2 (after beating Humphrey 3-1, 0-1, 1-0) Matt split two periods with Coleman Scott (NCAA 8,5,2,1, for Oklahoma St) before losing at the end.

For the Open, the LVAC Board backdated Valenti’s bonus funds as newly instituted (3rd place at world class events earns a $2,500 bonus; 2nd place $5,000 and 1st place equals $10,000 (national events earn $1,500; $1,000; $500. The new initiatives complement a similar plan recently announced by USA Wrestling. Valenti has matched up well with his LVAC coaching mentor, Jason Kutz, who retired from competition last year at the same weight.

July ’09 Update: Valenti completed a full circle by returning to his alma mater, Penn, as assistant wrestling coach. Kutz and the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club will continue to mentor and assist Matt with travel support wherever and whenever possible.

At Penn: Matt was an EIWA 2, 1, 1, 1 and placed 5th at NCAAs at 125 before his two titles at 133 in ’06, ’07.