Last month. June 13th.
Here's the thing about results — they don't lie, and they don't happen by accident.
The Silverbacks showed up to the Good Fight Scranton Scramble, and what happened on that mat is exactly what happens when a program does what it's supposed to do: build people, not just collect memberships.
Let's break down the day.
Mason Veina. Jiu-jitsu tournament debut. Two months and some change of training under his belt. Two months. Walked away with a silver medal.
That's not beginner's luck. That's what shows up when dedication, hunger to learn, and work ethic get put in front of the right opportunity at the right time. Mason has all three. Today was just the first day it showed up on paper.
Bill Costner. Went 1-1. Gave up 60 pounds to his opponent in the loss. Took it to overtime anyway.
Sixty pounds. Read that again. And he still made that man earn every second of it.
I don't care what the bracket says — that's not a loss. That's grit, poise, and tenacity, full stop, on display for everyone in that building to see.
Mike Wahlers. 0-2 in his first ever grappling tournament. Look at the record and you'll draw one conclusion. Watch the film and you'll draw a completely different one.
His second match looked nothing like his first. That's not a coincidence — that's development happening under pressure, in real time, in the span of one afternoon.
That's the whole point of what we do here.
But the story of the day belongs to Brian Porcello.
0-2 in his first tournament performance. Last year.
Gold. Today.
That's not a comeback story you write in a marketing deck. That's a year of showing up on the days nobody was watching.
"I'm not always the easiest coach to train under. I demand a lot. Understanding. Execution. Standards. I challenge these athletes constantly — in the room, on the mat, in the moments nobody's watching.
And they meet it. Every single time.
To say I'm proud is an understatement.
This is what NLGA is built on. Not hype. Not numbers. Moments like today — athletes showing up, competing hard, and growing in real time, right in front of us.
We're just getting started."— Matt Marcinek, Head Coach