Matt Valenti


Matt Valenti (born April 12, 1984) is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion wrestler from the University of Pennsylvania. He won the 133 pound weight class at the NCAA tournament in both 2006 and 2007 and finished in 5th place in 2004 at 125 pounds. He is currently the Associate Athletic Director for Student Development at the University of Pennsylvania.[1]

Matt Valenti
Personal information
Born (1984-04-12) April 12, 1984
Newton, New Jersey, U.S.
Sport
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamPenn Quakers
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Penn Quakers
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place2006 Oklahoma City133 lb
Gold medal – first place2007 Auburn Hills133 lb

Career

Valenti currently holds Penn's career win record with 137 collegiate victories. He was a three-time EIWA champion, a four-time NCAA qualifier, and three-time first team All-Ivy selection. He was celebrated twice as EIWA Wrestler of the Year and was the Ivy League Wrestler of the Year in 2007. He was an Olympic hopeful, qualifying for the 2012 USA Olympic trials,[2] losing in the semifinals to Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott.[3] Valenti has also been inducted into the Kittatinny Regional High School,[4] Sussex County Sports,[5] NJSIAA Region I,[6] EIWA[7] and Penn Athletics Hall of Fame.[8][9][10]

Valenti was recruited and brought to Penn by current head coach Roger Reina, but was coached to both national titles by former coach, Zeke Jones. He wrestled at Penn with his younger brother Andy,[11] while the youngest sibling Derek was an All-American for the University of Virginia.[12]

Valenti, a Stillwater Township, New Jersey native, attended Kittatinny Regional High School where he was a two-time New Jersey state champion. He also earned a Junior National title in freestyle his senior year. He is married to Kimberly Parsons Valenti who is the head gymnastics coach at Ursinus College.[13]

References
  1. "Matt Valenti - Associate ADSport Administrator: Wrestling - Staff Directory".
  2. "Former Penn wrestler Valenti off to Olympic Trials".
  3. "Oklahoma State's Coleman Scott wins bronze medal at London Olympics". 11 August 2012.
  4. KRHS Hall of Fame
  5. Sussex country sports hall of fame
  6. Hall of fame
  7. John Harman (January 6, 2014). "Dake, Jantzen, Valenti, Pottruck Named to EIWA Hall of Fame Class of 2014". Team USA. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  8. "Hall of Fame Class X - Matthew P. Valenti C'07".
  9. "Matt Valenti Bio". Columbia Sports.
  10. "Matt Valenti Biography". Penn Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  11. "The Valenti's".
  12. "Valenti Joins Henrich as All-Americans at NCAA Championships". 19 March 2011.
  13. "Valenti Tabbed as New Gymnastics Coach". 24 July 2018.
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