About us
Welcome to Broad Axe Wrestling
Broad Axe Wrestling Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit growing wrestling in Southeastern Pennsylvania by making quality training affordable to every family.
Choose to Fight / Train to Win / Live with Purpose
A letter from Coach Sam
People ask me why I coach. Some assume it’s because I love wrestling. I do. Others assume it’s because I want to build champions. I do. But those aren’t the real reasons.
The truth is, wrestling changed my life long before I ever started Broad Axe. I grew up around great coaches — Dale Bonsall, Bobby Weaver, Tom Hontz, Joe Pantaleo, Pat Sole, and many others who influenced me along the way. They taught me far more than takedowns and technique. They taught me discipline, resilience, accountability, and what it meant to care about the people around me. Later, I had coaches who showed me what not to do. I’m grateful for them too. Every one of them helped shape the coach I wanted to become.
The lessons never stayed on the mat. When life got hard, wrestling had already prepared me. It taught me to stay calm under pressure. It taught me to keep moving forward when nothing was going my way. It taught me that setbacks aren’t the end of the story — they’re usually where the growth begins. The mindset I use to lead my family, build this academy, and meet whatever life throws at me — I forged it in this sport. That’s why Broad Axe exists.
We teach wrestling, but wrestling is only the vehicle. Our real mission is to develop people who are disciplined enough to chase meaningful goals, resilient enough to overcome adversity, humble enough to keep learning, and compassionate enough to lift others along the way. The wrestling room has always been a sanctuary for me — a place where I could leave the outside noise at the door and think about one thing: getting a little better, next to people chasing the same thing. A safe place to learn, to struggle, and to grow.
I hope that’s what Broad Axe is for you. Years from now, I hope our athletes don’t just remember winning tournaments. I hope they remember learning to breathe when life felt overwhelming. I hope they remember choosing gratitude instead of bitterness. I hope they remember putting others before themselves, serving their communities, and believing in themselves when everything said they couldn’t. Most of all, I hope they remember that every coach at Broad Axe cared about them — that they were challenged because they were believed in, and that they were loved. Because one day the wrestling shoes come off. The medals get packed away. The records fade. But the person you become remains.
If Broad Axe helps shape young men and women who become loving husbands and wives, devoted parents, trusted coaches, successful business owners, and community leaders — people who leave the world better than they found it — then we’ve done something far greater than winning another championship. That’s the legacy we’re building.
Welcome to Broad Axe.
— Coach Sam
CHOOSE TO FIGHT
Getting on the mat isn’t easy. Neither is life when it gets heavy. We wrestle to the whistle and hunt the last takedown. Choosing to fight is a habit. The earlier a kid learns it here, the more they have when it counts off the mat.
TRAIN TO WIN
Trust your coaches. Trust your partners. Learn to love the process. A hard-fought loss often teaches more than an easy pin. Not every kid will be a state or national champ. Every kid can be coachable, and a little better tomorrow.
LIVE WITH PURPOSE
Wrestling is a small part of who these kids will become. Losses happen. Heartbreak is common. Neither one is the whole story. If they’re listening, staying in the fight, and getting better — that’s the ask. We want winners. More than that, we want people who leave the world better than they found it.
More Than Wrestling
Building Strong Wrestlers—and Even Stronger People
We teach wrestling, but our purpose reaches far beyond wins, losses, medals, and championships.
Every practice gives an athlete the opportunity to become more disciplined. Every difficult opponent requires courage. Every setback teaches resilience and humility. Every success creates an opportunity to practice gratitude.
These lessons do not remain in the wrestling room. Athletes carry them into school, relationships, future careers, families, and communities.
Broad Axe brings together national champions and first-year wrestlers, elementary students and high school seniors, boys and girls. They may have different goals and different levels of experience, but everyone has something to learn and something to contribute.
Experienced wrestlers are expected to raise the level of the room without looking down on those who are still learning. New wrestlers are expected to be brave enough to struggle, listen, and keep returning.
Everyone trains. Everyone learns. Everyone helps make the room better.
One day the wrestling shoes come off. The medals are packed away and the records are forgotten. What remains is the discipline, confidence, character, and relationships built along the way.
Wrestling is what we teach. Better people are what we hope to build.
Coaches
People who care as much about who you become as how you compete.
Sam Walters
About Head Coach Sam Walters
President & Head Coach
Coach Sam Walters has spent more than 15 years coaching wrestling at the high school and club levels. In that time he has worked with wrestlers of every age and ability—from first-year beginners to PIAA state champions, medalists, qualifiers, and multiple National Prep All-Americans. His greatest goal is simple: help every wrestler who walks through the door become the best version of themselves on the mat and in life.
Sam wrestled for Upper Perkiomen High School, where he helped the team win a state title in 2006. He continued his career at Liberty University and graduated with a degree in Sports Management. After college he returned home and began building programs across Southeastern Pennsylvania. He served as Assistant Coach and later Head Coach at his alma mater, Upper Perkiomen, while also leading Contender Elite Wrestling Club. In 2018 he partnered with Coach Solomon Fleckman at Germantown Academy to launch Broadaxe Wrestling Club. When the pandemic forced that club to close, Sam joined the Pennridge High School staff. In 2022 he returned to club coaching full-time and opened Broad Axe Wrestling Academy in Dublin.
Today Sam serves as President and Head Coach of Broad Axe. He still believes the same thing he believed when he first stepped on the mat as a coach: success is never linear, every kid who buys in deserves full investment, and the relationships built over years matter more than any medal. Wrestling is the vehicle. The real work is developing disciplined, resilient young people who know how to choose to fight—on the mat and off it.
Sam is excited to keep growing the sport in Bucks and Montgomery Counties and is grateful for every family that trusts Broad Axe with their wrestlers.
The coaching staff
Nathaniel Brown
Coach
Nathaniel Brown is a two-time NCAA All-American and NCAA finalist for Lehigh University. He has been part of Broad Axe Wrestling Academy since its opening, generously volunteering his time to help develop the next generation of wrestlers.
As a key member of the Academy’s advanced wrestling program, Nathaniel brings elite-level experience, technical knowledge, and an extensive network within the wrestling community. His insight and commitment make him an invaluable resource for both Broad Axe athletes and coaches.
Nathaniel also serves on the LVAC Board of Directors, continuing his dedication to growing the sport and giving back to the wrestling community.
Brian Kuhns
Coach
Brian Kuhns brings more than 20 years of coaching experience and service to the Pennridge wrestling community, supporting athletes at the youth, middle school, and high school levels. Since 2021, he has served as the head wrestling coach at Pennridge High School, where he has been named League Coach of the Year three times and District 1 Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, Pennridge earned an impressive fourth-place finish at the PIAA State Dual Team Wrestling Championships.
At Broad Axe Wrestling Academy, Brian is an outstanding assistant coach whose experience, energy, and willingness to help make him an invaluable presence in the room. He is passionate about developing young wrestlers, supporting his fellow coaches, and giving back to the local wrestling community.
Outside the wrestling room, Brian works as a Vice President of Investments and Trader.
Jared Kuhns
Coach
Jared Kuhns is one of Broad Axe Wrestling Academy’s most dedicated assistant coaches, spending four to six nights each week in the room working with our athletes. His consistency, technical knowledge, and hands-on approach make him an important part of the Academy and a tremendous resource for wrestlers of all ages.
Jared graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in 2023 after an outstanding career at 125 pounds. He was a two-time Middle Atlantic Conference champion and finished with a 102–36 career record, ranking sixth in program history in total victories. During his senior season, Jared went 36–8 and became York’s first NCAA Division III statistical champion after leading the nation with 12 technical falls.
Jared brings the same work ethic and competitive experience to coaching that defined his college career. Outside the wrestling room, he works in sales for JOCKO FUEL.
Kyle Gentile
Coach
Kyle Gentile brings an impressive Pennridge and Lehigh University wrestling background to Broad Axe Wrestling Academy. During his career at Pennridge High School, Kyle compiled a 162–27 record, qualified for the PIAA State Championships three times, and earned two state medals, finishing fifth and third. He was also a three-time Southeast Regional champion and captured titles at both the Beast of the East and Escape the Rock.
Kyle continued his wrestling career at Lehigh University, competing at 184 and 197 pounds. He earned tournament championships at the East Stroudsburg and Edinboro Opens and placed at several other collegiate events.
At Broad Axe, Kyle uses his high-level experience to teach strong technique, discipline, and resilience. His ability to connect with athletes and guide them through the challenges of competitive wrestling makes him a valuable member of our coaching staff. Outside the wrestling room, Kyle is the owner of True Flame Fireplaces and Chimneys.
Mike Lammer
Coach
Mike Lammer brings extensive collegiate coaching and athlete-development experience to Broad Axe Wrestling Academy. Before joining Delaware Valley University as Director of Wrestling Operations, Mike spent six years at Alvernia University, where he helped build the men’s wrestling program from its beginning and later served as associate head coach.
During his time at Alvernia, Mike helped develop six Middle Atlantic Conference champions and 15 additional conference place-winners. His coaching extends beyond technique, with a strong emphasis on character, accountability, academic progress, and helping athletes reach their full potential.
Mike wrestled collegiately at Elizabethtown College and served as team captain during his senior season. At Broad Axe, his knowledge, experience, and commitment to athlete development make him a tremendous resource for our wrestlers and coaching staff.
Jordan Wood
Coach
Jordan Wood leads the Elite Room at Broad Axe Wrestling Academy on Sunday nights, bringing world-class competitive experience and an exceptional understanding of high-level wrestling to our athletes.
During his career at Lehigh University, Jordan became a three-time NCAA All-American and the first wrestler in history to win five EIWA championships. He finished third at the 2022 NCAA Championships and completed his Lehigh career with a 100–23 record. Before college, Jordan was a PIAA state champion at Boyertown, a Fargo freestyle national champion, and a Cadet World silver medalist.
Jordan’s Elite Room challenges experienced wrestlers to sharpen their technique, expand their wrestling knowledge, and develop the discipline required to compete at the highest levels. His leadership, attention to detail, and ability to connect with athletes make Sunday nights an invaluable part of Broad Axe’s advanced training program.
Board Members
A Facility Built for Training, Recovery, and Growth
Our Dublin facility features approximately 2,700 square feet of Dollamur mats installed on a raised, sprung floor, giving athletes a little more protection while they train hard.
Beyond the mats, athletes have access to Rogue pull-up bars, climbing ropes, strength-training equipment, Rogue Echo Bikes, and a sauna for recovery.
We also have a dedicated study hall with built-in desks, tables, chairs, and a comfortable lounge area—giving athletes a place to complete schoolwork, relax, and connect with teammates before or after practice.
110 Meyers Way, Dublin, PA 18917 · (610) 301-4440
Want to Understand the Broad Axe Standard?
Learn what we expect from our athletes, parents, and coaches—and how Intensity, Focus, and Integrity shape everything we do.
Next step
Sign up online. Beginner — request a spot. Or call (610) 301-4440 / stop in weeknights 5:00–8:30 PM.
Handbooks