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Former Ohio State, Stanford All-American Joey McKenna joins Cowboy RTC

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•02/22/25•

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Former Ohio State and Stanford wrestler Joey McKenna is heading to Stillwater to join the Cowboy RTC at Oklahoma State.

The regional training center announced the move Saturday night. McKenna was training at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center, which is housed at the University of Pennsylvania.

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He’ll now train with Olympic Gold Medalist and Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor, among others, at the senior level facility.

“We’re excited to announce that Joey McKenna is joining Cowboy RTC! Welcome to Stillwater, Joey!,” the Cowboy RTC tweeted.

On the senior level, McKenna mostly wrestles at 65 KG and sometimes 70 KG. He is a U20 and U23 Bronze Medalist (in 2014 and ‘17). Over the last two years, McKenna won four bronze and three silver medals at myriad Grand Prix throughout the globe.

McKenna also won two gold medals in 2021 and ‘22 at the Pan American Championships.

Within the United States, McKenna’s biggest accomplishment, arguably, came at the 2021 US Olympic Trials. He upset numerous athletes en route to the best of three finals. However, he lost twice to Jordan Oliver and did not get the Olympic spot in Tokyo.

McKenna’s college career was one for the books. A three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Champion, he represented Stanford for two seasons before transferring to Ohio State.

As a freshman during the 2015-16 season, McKenna finished third at 141 pounds, defeating eventual 2019 NCAA champion Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) 7-6 in the third place bout.

After failing to place the following season in 2017 in St. Louis, McKenna transferred to Columbus. While at Ohio State, he won the Big Ten title in his first season and finished third at NCAAs for a second time.

He once again lost to Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith, who made the NCAA finals in ‘16 and ‘18, beating McKenna en route to the big stage.

During his final campaign in 2018-19, McKenna won another Big Ten title and earned his way to the NCAA finals at 141 pounds. However, he fell short of his ultimate goal, losing 6-4 in sudden victory to Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis. The latter ended up winning four NCAA titles.

McKenna finished his collegiate career with a 105-11 record over the course of four seasons at 141 pounds with two schools.