Chase Pami with his coach Brandon Slay (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Chase Pami, a multiple-time placewinner in freestyle at the U.S. Open and World Team Trials, announced his retirement from the sport of wrestling on his social media accounts on Wednesday.
Pami had been training at Pennsylvania RTC since 2015. He was consistently among the nation's top six wrestlers in his weight class throughout his freestyle career. Pami won gold medals at Grand Prix of Paris and NYAC International, as well as medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial International and Sunkist Kids International Open. He was a member of the 2012 and 2013 USA World Cup teams.
As a collegiate competitor, Pami was a two-time All-American for Cal Poly, finishing as an NCAA runner-up at 157 pounds in 2010.
The Las Vegas native thanked many people who have been instrumental in his wrestling career.
Today I would officially like to announce my retirement from competition. It has been an amazing 23 year ride that has taken me around the world. When I first stepped on the mat in Las Vegas, NV 23 years ago I could have never imagined the journey I would go on. Last month at the US Open it only seemed fitting to end it in the same city I began in.
Thank you to all those who have supported me and been a part of my career. Thank you to my youth coaches Pete Durazo and Randy Aleman. Thank you to my high school coaches Mike Garcia and Tim Jeffries. Thank you Gray Maynard! Thank you Matt Azevedo and John Azevedo for recruiting me to Cal Poly. Finally Thank you Brandon Slay you coached me for 7 years. Not only on the mat but off the mat. You have helped me grow in my wrestling and my faith. I love you and appreciate you!
Thank you Pennsylvaniartc for your support these last few years. Thank you Sunkist Kids! Kim Martori Wickey you talked me through some tough times and supported my goals. Art and Sue Martori you made it possible for me to travel to countries I never would have went to otherwise. Thank you to USA wrestling and all the people involved for making it possible for athletes like myself to do this. Thank you flowrestling, you guys have been great to me and elevated the sport of wrestling.
Dad you were there for so many of my tournaments quietly watching and snacking. I love you Dad.
Mom what can I say. This journey never happened without you taking me to some random wrestling tournament. You have always been there and loved me, win or lose. I Love You Mom.
Thank you God for giving me this gift to wrestle. You deserve all the Glory! It was you who gave me the grace to wrestle all these years!
As I write this my heart hurts because a part of me is still on that mat. But now it's my turn to help others achieve their dreams and help USA be the greatest wrestling country in the world.
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