MATTHEW VALENTI, Pennsylvania
’07: In 2006 at 133,
Matt Valenti became Penn’s third national champion; the next
year he joined Dick DiBattista as two-time champions. He was the
third EIWA two-time champion since 1986. Matt also reached the
Round of 12 and placed fifth. A three-time EIWA champion after
2nd as a freshman, Valenti was twice EIWA Wrestler of
the Year and a unanimous Ivy League Wrestler of the Year as senior.
Matt is Penn’s all-time leader in wins with 137 and is
co-owner of Penn records for wins in a season (36, achieved twice)
and season falls (11). Valenti was a two-time NJ champion, National
HS 2nd, Junior National Freestyle Champion, Cadet National
All-American and Second-team ASICS All-American.
As post-grad, Valenti won
bronze at the Pan-American Championships and 3rd for the
LVAC at the U.S. National Open. He placed 4th at
a U.S. World Team Trials weight featuring five World
Team members. A Wharton graduate, Valenti served as an assistant at
Columbia University (coaching their first EIWA champion since 1995)
and has been a part of Penn’s coaching staff since
2009.