PRTC wrestlers Chase Pami and B.J. Futrell retire from competition

Two Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) athletes announced their retirement after the 2019 U.S. Open. Veterans of the freestyle scene, Chase Pami and B.J. Futrell are hanging up their shoes.
After spending decades in the sport, the pair will transition into the next phases of their careers. For the time being, Pami plans to stay in the wrestling world. It was recently announced that in addition to his role as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, Pami will serve as an assistant coach at the PRTC under current head coach, and 2000 Olympic Gold medalist, Brandon Slay.
“It’s kind of a storybook ending for me. Anyone that knows me knows I love Las Vegas. I’m from there, and I enjoy everything about it. To get to start there 23 years ago, when my mom just brought me to some random wrestling tournament and threw me in, and then 23 years later, just 10 miles down the road at the South Point Casino at the U.S. Open, I got to walk away on my own terms in my city,” Pami said.
“It was my own special moment even though no one in the crowd knew what was happening. I was sitting there afterwards processing what happened. I lost to a fellow PRTC athlete and one of my closest friends Dan Vallimont, and I just sat there for an hour just taking it all in. I didn’t know going into it, I would be done but I kind of accepted this was it, and I was ready to walk away. I’ve spent 23 years competing and nine at the international level. I never thought I’d take wrestling this far. I never thought I’d be 32 years old and still competing,” he said.
Pami was a two-time NCAA All-American and NCAA finalist for Cal Poly.
Futrell tore his ACL in his opening match at the Open but battled back for an eighth place podium finish. However, the operation to repair his ACL will be Futrell’s eighth surgery in nine years. Futrell had originally planned on competing through the 2020 Olympics, but the surgery and recovery time required made that not possible.
“It came at a time that was unexpected and not according to my timetable. I made the most of the opportunities that I was given, and that’s all you can do. Some people think of success as what you do compared to other people, but I try to think of success as what I can do vs. what God called me to do. I did things the right way. I did things with integrity, and I can rest easy about that,” Futrell said
While Futrell knows wrestling will always be a part of his life, his next steps may involve pursuing one of his other passions.
“I have a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in education policy. I love wrestling. I’m passionate about wrestling. I will always be involved in wrestling in some capacity whether it’s coaching or volunteering, but I’m also passionate about education and feel like I have a lot of leadership qualities. Everything is still up in the air right now” he said
Futrell’s advice to other wrestlers still competing is to try to have fun with it.
“I competed for 25 years. At different points in my career I wish I had enjoyed the process more. It’s always a fight not to worry about results and be results driven because that can take the fun out of it. I think fear causes people not to compete up to their potential. I can rest easy about my career because I know I left no stone unturned,” Futrell said.
He ends his competitive career as a 2017 National Team member and two-time All-American for the University of Illinois.

Watch Pami and Futrell speak about their retirement in the interviews below.