1-YEAR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURE NCAA WRESTLERS
ACADEMIC SUPPORT, COLLEGIATE COMPETITION EXPERIENCE, HOUSING, AND STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Prepare to Succeed in College
The SpartanCombatRTC is designed to provide an affordable option for the student-wrestler looking for a year of high level training and competition before matriculating into college as a full-time student.
Spartan Combat Agoge Schedule 2026-27
2026-27 Roster
Matthew Dimen
Wyoming Seminary, PA
Vinny Freeman
Penn High School, IN
Joseph Jeter
Edmond North High School, OK
Samson McKissick-Staley
Pittsford High School, NY
Santino Rodriguez
Don Bosco Prep, NJ
Joseph Toscano
Buchanan High School, CA
Tyler Traves
Mountain View High School, VA
Tommy Verrette
Edmond North High School, OK
Brayden Zuercher
Nazareth High School, PA
Program Overview
On the mat preparation
The Spartan culture is a hardworking brotherhood. Training alongside the top junior wrestlers in the country under the guidance of a world-class coaching staff creates a breeding ground of success. You will become a better athlete and wrestler.
Physical Training
Training off the mat is necessary for developing optimal athletic performance. The Agoge program is dedicated to individualizing training for each athlete.
Family-like Support
Joining the Spartan Combat RTC means becoming a part of the family. We are a non-profit organization that supports athletes in all areas necessary to help them accomplish their goals.
Coaching Staff
Vito Arujau
Vito Arujau won the 2023 World Championship in Freestyle at 61 kg. A four-time All-American at Cornell, Vito finished his Big Red career as a two-time NCAA champion at 133 pounds and the 2023 NCAA Outstanding Wrestler. He was a four-time Academic-All American as well.
Vito also won World Silver at the Cadet and Junior World Championships for Team USA and was a Pan American Champion.
Greg Kerkvliet
Greg Kerkvliet won the 2024 NCAA Championship at 285 pounds, after making the finals at NCAAs in 2023. A four-time All-American at heavyweight, Kerkvliet also finished in the top 3 at the Big 10 Championships three times, winning in 2024.
Kerkvliet captured a Cadet World Championship, as well as a Cadet World silver and took second at the Yasar Dogu in 2026 at 125 kg.
Julian Ramirez
Julian was a four-year starter for Cornell at 165 pounds, making to the blood round at the NCAA Championships four times.
He was a two-year team captain, who won EIWA and Ivy titles and defeated NCAA Champions David Carr and Shane Griffith, as well as NCAA finalist Quincy Monday during his career for the Big Red.
He also is freestyle standout who won the U23 World Team Trials at 74 kg.
Joey Silva
Joseph Silva represents Team Puerto Rico at 61 kg on the international stage, wrestling at the Senior World Championships in 2022-2024.
He earned Silver at the Senior Pan American Championships in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, while also making the bronze medal match at the Rankings Series Zagreb Open in 2024. Silva also took bronze at the Pan American Games in Chile up a weight at 65 kg in 2023.
Ben Honis
Ben Honis was an NCAA All-American for Cornell at 197 pounds and a multiple time NCAA Qualifier.
He competes internationally for Italy and took fifth at the 2024 World Championships and the 2023 European Championships.
Ben took bronze at the Budapest Ranking Series (Polyak Imre Tournament) at 92 kg in 2025 and has also represented Italy at the World Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Eli Bienstock
Eli Bienstock wrestled for Cornell for four years before graduating in 2017. He continued to assist with the Big Red wrestling program as he stayed in Ithaca to earn his JD and MBA from Cornell.
While he worked as a lawyer, Eli continued to mentor Cornell wrestlers and he assisted with coaching the Agoge program in 2024.