Downey Versus Varner Added to RAF 02 Card

The second offering from Real American Freestyle, RAF 02, is beginning to take shape. As expected, with the event taking place at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center, this card will likely have a heavy dose of Penn State/Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

The third match released by the organization will pit two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner against the mercurial former world team member, Patrick Downey III.

The pair have a link as both got on the NCAA medal stand for Iowa State. Varner was a four-time NCAA finalist competing at 184-197 lbs between 2007-10. He captured NCAA titles in each of his last two years, along with a pair of Big 12 crowns. The only time that Downey was eligible for postseason competition came in 2016 when he finished fifth in the nation at 197 lbs.

On the international stage, Varner made the Senior World Team while still active at Iowa State in 2009. In 2011, he earned a world bronze medal at 96 kg. A year later, Varner defeated Ukraine’s Valeriy Andriytsev, 1-0, 1-0, to win the Olympic gold medal at that same weight. He would make the 2014 world team, but was usurped by the young phenom Kyle Snyder the following year.

Varner moved to State College in 2016 and has been an assistant coach at Penn State and a coach at the NLWC since. During that time, he has worked closely with Snyder.

Downey was the only American medalist on the 2011 Junior World Team when he earned a silver medal at 84 kg.

In 2019, Downey won the US Open and defeated Nick Heflin to make the Senior World Team. In the World Championships in Kazakhstan, Downey was not able to medal but did pick up a pair of wins.

Over the course of his career, Downey has frequently run into members of the Penn State and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. At the 2024 Olympic Trials (also at the Bryce Jordan Center), Downey jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on Carter Starocci, but eventually lost 12-4. At the 2020 Olympic Trials, Downey was teched by Bo Nickal, but teched Aaron Brooks.

With Downey being a polarizing figure, I’m sure his addition against a member of the NLWC staff will generate the desired reaction from the partisan fans in attendance.

This is the third match released from the October 25th RAF 02 card. The card is as follows:

Heavyweight (Unlimited) - Patrick Downey III vs. Jake Varner

Bantamweight (135 lbs) - Nathan Tomasello (champ) vs. Roman Bravo-Young

Heavyweight (Unlimited) - Mason Parris vs. Kyle Snyder