Berlin Brothersvalley grad to fight in Pan Am championships
A month from now, David Krouse will be boarding an international flight for the first time, ready to represent his country – and Somerset County – at the IMMAF Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Monterrey, Mexico.
It’s the latest step on a journey that the 2014 Berlin graduate started about three years ago.
“I never really thought of it,” Krouse said of taking his MMA career to the international level. “I dreamed of it, but never thought it would be my reality. I stayed consistent, stayed the course and the stars aligned. Hopefully, I’m going to ride it all the way, put the small town of Berlin on the map. Show them how we do it in the mountains of Berlin.”
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Success in Monterrey – a city in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains – could take him to the Persian Gulf for the amateur world championships in Abu Dhabi.
First, there is the matter in Mexico, where Krouse will be one of 14 Americans – and the only one from Pennsylvania – fighting for a spot in Abu Dahbi. The former powerlifter and boxer would need to win three bouts in three days to capture the Pan Am title and qualify for January’s world championships, which featured athletes from more than 60 countries this year. The world championships were watched in more than 1.2 billion homes in 2022.
That’s a big jump for Krouse, who is 1-1 as an amateur – meaning that he will fight more times in those three days than he has in his career.
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“It is crazy,” he said of the schedule. “I like that because I don’t know any of my opponents. I think when you have time to prep for an opponent, it’s something that’s on your mind. I’m just going to show up and fight. I usually do a lot better under pressure anyway.”
He’s done well enough to impress Danillo Villefort, the Brazilian jiu jitsu world champion and UFC veteran who coaches Krouse at the Indio Dojo in Pittsburgh. Villefort submitted Krouse’s name for the Pan Am championships, and he was selected to represent the U.S. in the heavyweight class.
Krouse got his start working with Tanner and Taylor Cahill at The Shop, and has joined them in Villefort’s gym.
“We started this journey about 2½ years ago at the original underground Shop in Somerset, and it’s developed into what it is today, a legitimate gym (in Berlin),” Tanner Cahill said. “We give all the credit to our coach in Pittsburgh, who has taught us everything that we know.”
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The U.S. team will be coached by Forrest Griffin, a member of the UFC Hall of Fame and the organization’s vice president of athlete development.
“That’s going to be huge, developing connections across the country,” Taylor Cahill said of the opportunities that Krouse’s selection will open for him. “He’s going to learn a lot, and we’re excited for him. No one in the area has been selected for something like this and maybe never will be again.”
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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Berlin Brothersvalley grad Krouse taking MMA career to new heights
