By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
ATHENS — Two-time PIAA wrestling champion and NCAA National Qualifier Brian Courtney, a 2017 Athens grad, is still working the mats, but now he owns them, as in the United Training Facility, located here on Main Street.
United is a training facility and its mission statement states it "exists to unite wrestlers from across our region in pursuit of excellence on and off the mat."
Courtney, along with his wife Grace, recently took the reins from United founder Dave Patrick of Wyalusing, who will still be involved as a coach.
So, how did it all come about?
"Dave and his wife have been running this club for the past few years and they've been doing a great job," said Courtney. "They've just had a lot going on with their work lives, so they decided they wanted to take a step back.
"They thought of my wife and I, as people that they wanted to come in and run it.
"We met with them, and we just loved the vision that they've had here," added Courtney. "And we just can't wait to continue on with that."
Fifteen and more years ago when Courtney was cutting his teeth in junior high school, his parents were driving him to Rochester to wrestle at clubs with Yianni Diakomihalis or three-plus hours to Long Island to wrestle at clubs with Vito Arujau, or two hours to Wyalusing Seminary to wrestle with Jack Mueller.
"We are offering here what I used to have to drive two or three hours for," he said.
"We want everyone to come," added Courtney. "We want to help everyone. We want every kid to feel seen and get what they need out of this practice. So, we're just providing opportunity for everyone to grow and get better and reach their goals."
Courtney said United Training Facility is a bit different than most of the club's he use to wrestle in.
"One
thing that definitely makes is different is the space that we have," he
said. "It's new and clean and we have tall ceilings, good lighting —
outdoor lighting. And then we have a lot of great exercise equipment.
"I think it's got a lot of light and excitement," Courtney added.
Courtney and Patrick are joined by Andy Rendos, a two-time New York state champion from Rockway, and a two-time NCAA all-American at Bucknell, and former Waverly state champ and Athens state place-winner A.J. Burkhart, who was an NCAA qualifier at Lehigh University.
Courtney is glad to be back in the Valley, and giving back to the sport he loves.
"Wrestling
is kind of like a cult, and we want people to join ours," laughed
Courtney. "I grew up around this area and I grew up in Athens and I
right now I live in South Waverly.
"And, not only is
wrestling a cult, but the Valley wrestling, District 4 wrestling, and
Section 4 wrestling, this area is its own cult," added Courtney. "I'm
excited that we get to help kind of grow that."
"We want we want everyone to come check it out," he said. "The first practice will be completely free, so there's no pressure to join.
"There's
no pressure to pay anything that first time," noted Courtney. "We just
want you to come in and see what this experience is like and what you
can get out of it because we really, truly believe that we can help
anyone reach their goals regardless of what those goals are.
United's
schedule includes junior high and high school training sessions Monday
and Wednesday from 6 to 7:45 p.m., upper elementary and middle school
training Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30, and a session Sunday
from 5 to 6:45 p.m. that is open to all ages.
For up-to-the-minute updates on the United Training Facility, follow their Facebook page and their Instagram account.
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IN PHOTO 1: United Training Facility owner Brian Courtney.
