Leadership

Along the banks of the Schuylkill River, the Philly Wrestling landscape continues to flourish under the leadership and involvement of several individuals. Whether it be coaching, mentoring, fundraising, and/or networking, many have come together united in a common cause.

The sentiment of the “City of Brotherly Love” has certainly not been denied in the local wrestling community. Within the city limits, a world class training program, led by an Olympic Gold Medalist, is connected with two NCAA Division 1 programs. A national organization designed to alter life’s trajectory for inner city youth has its local headquarters steps away from these three entities. This connection, vital to so many, leads to endless mentoring opportunities.

Just west of the city limits, but still connected via the local river’s tributaries, a storied NCAA Division 3 college continues to thrive. Having recently lost their long time leader to a sudden passing, the administration hired an energetic and experienced visionary. The brightness of the greatest sport shines in the city and radiates through the western suburbs.

Bridging the gaps between business leaders and these programs has been a key to the successful sustainability of Philly Wrestling. The local chapter of a national wrestling networking group has just been revamped and revitalized. The new executive board has hit the ground running with event planning and membership drives designed to bring together a community.

The future of Philly Wrestling is in good hands with the current management. Dedicated, driven, and passionate about what they do, here are the local leaders…

Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay is the Head Coach of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center. A native of Texas, Coach Slay is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Earning his degree in 1998, he was a 2x NCAA finalist for the Quakers. Soon thereafter, he entered international competition. In 2000, Coach Slay won the US Open and went on to win the Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

A member of several Hall of Fames, Coach Slay is an accomplished coach as well. He settled in Philadelphia after having been the resident coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. His athletes have won numerous world medals at both the senior and junior elite levels.

Roger Reina is the Head Coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Coach Reina is the most successful coach in the history of the Quakers wrestling program. The UPenn graduate took over the program in 1986 before stepping down in 2005. In that time, he helped produce eight Ivy League Championship teams and 17 NCAA All-Americans. He came back to the program in 2017 with a renewed vitality for working towards the future. In the past, Coach Reina had been elected EIWA Coach of the Year three times while coaching 31 EIWA Champions.

In the last few years, Coach Reina has amassed top 25 recruiting classes. His vision with combined experience has the UPenn faithful excited for things to come.

Matt Azevedo is the Head Coach at Drexel University. The Iowa State graduate has helped bring the Dragons into the national spotlight. In recent years, Drexel has cracked the top 25 rankings. The former Cornell University assistant coach certainly has the experience to help his current team to the next level. He had helped the Big Red Bears have back to back team second place finishes at the NCAA Championships. His experience at the highest levels has helped Drexel thrive under his tutelage.

Since his time in Philly began, Coach Azevedo has coached 32 National Qualifiers. In 2020, the Dragons had four qualifiers and one alternate. His student-athletes also excel in the challenging Drexel academic environment. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, Coach Azevedo’s wrestlers have had the highest GPA among all Division 1 programs in the country for the last two years. The Dragons have a solid future, on and off the mat.

James Mangan is the executive director of Beat The Streets Philadelphia. A long time resident of Philadelphia, Mangan leads a program designed to alter the lives of kids living in the city. A graduate of Frankford High School, he grew up wrestling at the local Police Athletic League.

The Beat The Streets national program was created by University of Pennsylvania graduates. Through wrestling, they’ve been able to make positive connections. The opportunities the Philly program brings to the inner city youth population are growing exponentially. James Mangan continues to lead BTS Philly along this path as more and more high school and youth programs benefit.

Joseph Jamison is the Head Coach at Ursinus College. The energetic and enthusiastic former Princeton assistant coach has brought his experience to the Philadelphia suburban wrestling landscape. A native of Philadelphia, Jamison wrestled for Archbishop Wood, where he was a National Prep School All-American. He went on to wrestle for King’s College in Wilkes Barre, Pa. graduating with degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

At Princeton, Coach Jamison helped coach thirty six NCAA D1 National Qualifiers and three All-Americans. His experience at getting the best out of his student-athletes is invaluable. Future and current Ursinus Bears will surely benefit.

Coach Jamison has stated publicly his vision for the program. He wants the team on the national podium. He wants a top three finish within his first ten years at the helm. His experience combined with his high level energy should, no doubt, help him achieve his goal.

Jake Hunter is the Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Wrestlers In Business Network. A graduate and former wrestler at the University of Pennsylvania, Hunter is poised to lead the revitalization of one of the most important parts of the Philly Wrestling community. Networking is key to success. Having a group specific to those who are fans and/or former athletes of the greatest sport helps with connections. Whether it be social events, webinars, or athletic competitions, the WIBN Philly Chapter has a mission to bring people together for a common cause.

The Missouri native has taken the lead role of developing an executive board complete with various committees. His fundraising and event ideas have been shared with the group. From all different backgrounds and experiences, the board is organized and following Hunter’s lead. The former school teacher and current COO of Wrestling Mindset has been a perfect choice by the National Chapter to lead the Philadelphia networking group.

Philly Wrestling is on the move. Stay tuned…