Top high school coaches in region pair with some of wrestling's top names to boost sport at United Training Facility.
What had been a furniture store just over the border in Athens, Pennsylvania, is now providing building blocks for wrestlers from New York and Pennsylvania.
The United Training Facility, in its third year, has a focused mission.
"It's to improve wrestling in Section 4 and the northern part of District 4," said coach Brett Owen, who is also head coach of Section 4 boys wrestling power Horseheads.
A large chalkboard chronicles the success of boys and girls from the club, both at the high school level and within club competition.
Along with about 10 wrestlers from Owen's team at Horseheads, the club includes competitors from the Binghamton region, Campbell-Savona High School in Steuben County, Williamsport and other parts of Pennsylvania's Northern Tier. Waverly, Tioga Central and Owego Free Academy are big supporters, Owen said. Vestal coaches Chris Musser and John Giacche have come in.
It is located on Main Street at the former home of Jay's Furniture after moving from a location in Ulster, near Towanda, in the spring of 2024.
The new home's dedicated wrestling building features considerable mat space, plenty of light, and windows adorned by banners of programs that represent the colleges of club wrestlers or coaches who have lent their expertise.
But wrestling has always been more about sweat than aesthetics.
"The competition, the kids that come down here, and the environment itself," rising Horseheads senior Josh Knapp said of his reasons for participating in the club. "It's a really good environment, the coaches know exactly what they're doing."
David Patrick, a former Pennsylvania state champion at Wyalusing and current head coach of his alma mater, owns the club.
"One of Dave's other goals is to introduce the kids to a wide variety of technique," Owen said. "Then they pick out what they like. No two wrestlers are the same and you have to have a wide variety of talent to come in to help."
Instruction from some of country's best
On this weekday morning in July, three-time NCAA Division I champion Ricky Bonomo was holding court and giving pointers to an enthusiastic and inquisitive group of about 30 wrestlers ranging from elementary to high school.
It was part of a clinic provided by Wrestling with the Outdoors, a Harrisburg-based organization focused on leadership within the wrestling and outdoor community. The club's board includes Dan Gable, Barry Davis, Sandy Nickal and Jason Nickal, all well-known names in the sport.
"I think the sport of wrestling is a unique sport. It's a team sport, but it's also an individual sport," Bonomo said. "The thing about wrestling is that it teaches you so many great life lessons: character, commitment, it gives you some courage, it talks about just being a good person."
Bonomo won NCAA titles for Bloomsburg University in 1985, 1986 and 1987. He remains busy through private lessons and clinics, often working alongside his twin brother, Rocky.
Rob Rapsey, CEO of Wrestling with the Outdoors, retired in 2019 as coach at Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. His former wrestlers at Cedar Cliff consistently returned to lend a hand, which is typical within the wrestling community.
"You see that all the time," Rapsey said. "It's not very difficult to grab somebody and say, 'Hey, do you want to come in and work with these kids?' Most people in the wrestling community give back."
Rapsey praised Bonomo, his teammate at Bloomsburg, as one of the top wrestling clinicians in the country.
"We have a three-time national champ in here and for these kids to be around it, it's awesome. It's priceless," Owen said.
Olympians among others who have contributed
Owen said it says a great deal about "the brotherhood of wrestling" that they have been able to have such high-profile wrestling figures contribute to their cause.
Off the top of his head, Owen mentioned people from Muhlenberg, Wilkes, Arizona State, Lehigh, Rutgers, Misericordia, Utica and Oneonta State among those who have participated or are scheduled to come to the club.
Two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy, Lehigh All-American Sheldon Seymour, Puerto Rico Olympian Darian Cruz, and U.S. Olympic Trial competitor Vayle-Rae Baker have also provided their expertise. The Wrestling with the Outdoor sessions also featured Penn State wrestler Connor Pierce.
The club's coaches have impressive credentials of their own.
"These kids pick up new stuff so easily and it has to do with their coaches," Bonomo said. "They've got some great coaches here."
Knapp said there is much to be gained from taking in different perspectives from those in the know.
"It's going to prepare you a lot better for when the season hits and you're wrestling on the mat," he said.
Success at a national level
The United Training Facility club provides training year-round, with at least three practices a week. On a given night, there are about 30 wrestlers in the room.
Last year the club posted a 4-1 record at the Thousand Island Duals and placed second. In May, a team from the club traveled to Virginia Beach for NHSCA National Duals and went 3-3 while finishing in the top 25% of about 250 teams.
Knapp, whose twin brother Tanner also wrestles, said benefits of competing with the club include the high caliber of competition.
"It's very important," he said. "It's my last year (at Horseheads) and I've got to make it count. It's the last time I'm probably going to be on the mat."
Next clinic features Maryland coach Alex Clemsen
United Training Facility will host a camp from Aug. 5 to 7 that features Alex Clemsen, head coach at the University of Maryland. Cole Matthews, a Maryland assistant, will also be there.
Cost is $200 and spots are still available. Sign-ups are available at unitedtf.pushpress.com/landing/plans/plan_22fd6a81e7fa4f/login.
Camp includes an evening session Aug. 5, morning and afternoon sessions Aug. 6, and a morning session Aug. 7.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: How United Training Facility is seeking to improve Section 4 wrestling
Category: General Sports
