The Simple Man Wrestling staff is a collective of elite athletes, coaches, journalists, and promoters dedicated to developing wrestling talent and advancing the sport nationwide. Founded by Bryan Battisto, a 2019 Pac-12 finalist at Cal State Bakersfield, the organization blends technical expertise with a commitment to athlete growth and community engagement. Bryan leads through coaching, programming, and the Simple Man Wrestling Podcast.
Supporting him are Brian Navarro, a veteran coach and broadcaster with CIF championships and decades of athlete development; Oren Dramen, an accomplished coach and media producer mentoring state and collegiate champions; and Carlo Franciotti, a coach renowned for turning high school programs into state contenders and guiding athletes to collegiate success.
Journalistic and promotional efforts are spearheaded by Pablo DiMaria and Al Fontes, whose reporting, historical documentation, and storytelling highlight emerging talent while preserving wrestling’s legacy. Covering California, Idaho, and beyond, the team amplifies the sport through articles, podcasts, and event promotion.
Rooted in experience, integrity, and technical excellence, Simple Man Wrestling fosters growth, resilience, and passion, connecting athletes, programs, and the broader wrestling community.
BRYAN BATTISTO – Coach | Podcaster | Wrestling Broadcaster | Founder of Simple Man Wrestling
Bryan Battisto is a wrestler, coach, and founder of Simple Man Wrestling, dedicated to developing athletes and advancing the sport at every level. A 2014 graduate of Harbor High School in Santa Cruz, California, Bryan was a two-time CIF State Tournament qualifier and team MVP, setting the stage for his collegiate career.
He walked on at Cal State Bakersfield (CSUB) in 2014, earned a scholarship, and started for three seasons, highlighted by reaching the 2019 Pac-12 final at 174 pounds. Known for his perseverance, technical skill, and leadership, Bryan established himself as a standout competitor and mentor.
Bryan began coaching in 2017 with the Rebel Wrestling Club and quickly gained a reputation for helping athletes reach their potential. He later served on the coaching staff at South Bakersfield High School (2019–2021) before joining Elite Force Wrestling Club and Frontier High School in 2021. That same year, he launched the Simple Man Wrestling Podcast, creating a platform to educate, inspire, and connect wrestling enthusiasts nationwide.
Bryan’s coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, resilience, and technical excellence, blending his own competitive experience with a passion for teaching. Through his work on the mat and in media, he continues to grow the wrestling community, shaping athletes both on and off the mat.
BRIAN NAVARRO – Coach | Podcaster | Wrestling Broadcaster
Brian began his wrestling journey as a CIF Dual Meet Champion in 1995 under first-year head coach Arnold Alpert. He launched his coaching career in 1996 at Temecula Valley High School, initially serving as freshman head coach before advancing to junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant, a role he held through 2013. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing elite athletes, including two-time state champion Ryan Kane, as well as state champions Justin Flores, Calvin DeVault, and Patrick Martinez. He currently serves as a teacher at Great Oak High School in Temecula, California.
In 2007, Brian expanded into wrestling commentary, making his debut at Temecula’s Battle for the Belt tournament. This led to broadcast opportunities at premier events, including the Nevada State Championships and, since 2022, the California State Championships with KND Productions. His commentary portfolio also includes the Zinkin Classic, Doc Buchanan Invitational, Beat the Streets events, Big 12 matches for California Baptist University, and the 3C2A dual and individual state championships over the past three seasons.
Beyond live events, Brian has contributed to the Simple Man Wrestling Podcast for the past three years, sharing in-depth analysis and insights with the wrestling community. His combined experience as a coach and broadcaster allows him to merge technical expertise with storytelling, enhancing athlete development and fan engagement. Through these roles, Brian remains dedicated to advancing wrestling, fostering talent, and promoting the sport at every level.
OREN DRAMEN – Wrestling Coach | Commentator | Producer
Oren Dramen began his wrestling journey at age 12 in 2002, progressing quickly through youth programs with the Poway Slammers before joining the Rancho Bernardo High School team in 2004. A standout competitor and leader, he graduated in 2008 as team captain. He continued his career at Palomar College from 2008–2011, earning state qualifier honors in 2009, serving as team captain, and simultaneously assisting with Rancho Bernardo Wrestling. Recruited to Cal State Bakersfield, Dramen joined the nationally 15th-ranked recruiting class and captained the team in his senior season.
Returning to San Diego, Dramen focused on coaching, guiding Rancho Bernardo athletes to multiple CIF championships and mentoring three state champions, as well as Division I wrestlers including Chasen Blair (UNC), Jaden Abas (Stanford), Tyler Badgett (PITT), and Javen Jovero (Columbia). His coaching career spans youth programs to high school teams, earning a reputation for developing elite talent and fostering a lifelong passion for wrestling.
In 2016, Dramen joined FloWrestling as a full-time producer and commentator, overseeing premier wrestling and jiu-jitsu events such as the World Team Trials, ADCC World Championships, NJCAA Championships, Who’s #1, and Super 32, collaborating with ESPN during the 2017 NCAA Championships. He continued producing and commentating for Flo through 2021 while also working on live productions for the San Diego Padres.
Now based in Las Vegas, Dramen remains an active commentator, podcaster, and advocate for wrestling, contributing to the Simple Man Wrestling podcast and developing his own show. He also serves as an assistant coach at Chase Pami’s Gold Rush Academy and at SLAM Academy. A lifelong student and passionate promoter of the sport, he brings knowledge, energy, and dedication to every athlete, production, and program he engages with.
CARLO FRANCIOTTI – Coach | Podcaster
Wrestling has been at the center of Carlo Franciotti’s life for more than two decades. Now in his 19th year as a coach, he has built a reputation for developing elite, battle-tested athletes and elevating programs to state-level prominence. Since taking over Frontier High School in 2018, Franciotti has transformed the Titans into a powerhouse, highlighted by a record sixth-place finish at the California State Championships in his first season—earning him 2018 Bakersfield Californian Coach of the Year honors. Under his leadership, Frontier has consistently achieved top-ten state finishes, solidifying its place among California’s elite programs.
Franciotti’s results are measurable. His athletes include 62 state qualifiers, 16 state placers, and multiple state champions, including Elite Force standouts Trent Tracy (2018) and Miguel Estrada (2022, 2023). Many move on to compete at the collegiate level, representing programs such as Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Colorado School of Mines, and Missouri Baptist.
A product of the same grind he now demands, Franciotti began wrestling as a freshman at St. Francis High School, placing seventh in the state as a senior in 2001. He continued his career at NCAA Division I Cal State Bakersfield from 2001 to 2006.
Off the mat, Franciotti is an English teacher at Frontier, a regular voice on the Simple Man Wrestling podcast, and a devoted father of five. Grounded in faith, family, and the outdoors, he remains committed to developing excellence—both on the mat and in life.
PABLO DIMARIA – Wrestling Journalist | Promoter
Pablo began his wrestling career as a ninth-grade student at Bell High School in Southeast Los Angeles, where he trained under head coach Franklin O’Connor, a James Logan High (NCS) alumnus and educator. Under O’Connor’s leadership, Pablo developed the discipline, resilience, and work ethic that define the sport. During his high school career, he contributed to two CIF Los Angeles City Section Championship teams, establishing a strong competitive foundation. He continued his athletic career at Cerritos College, competing within California’s highly regarded junior college wrestling system.
Although his competitive achievements did not include championship titles, wrestling had a lasting impact on Pablo and shaped the trajectory of his professional life. He transitioned into sports journalism, building a respected career spanning more than two decades. His work has been featured in a range of prominent wrestling publications and media platforms, including FloWrestling, The Open Mat, Wrestling USA Magazine, California USA Wrestling, SCWAY, and The California Wrestler. In recognition of his editorial excellence and contributions to the sport, Pablo was named Editor of the Year for Wrestling USA Magazine and received the prestigious Irv Oliner Award for outstanding service to California wrestling. Known for his insightful storytelling and deep understanding of the sport, he has helped elevate the visibility and coverage of wrestling in California and beyond.
He has since become an integral member of the Simple Man Wrestling staff, serving as both a writer and promoter of wrestling throughout the Golden State and beyond. In this role, he continues to document the achievements of emerging athletes, advocate for the growth of the sport, and preserve its enduring traditions.
AL FONTES – Wrestling Journalist | Coach | Historian | Podcaster
Al Fontes is a distinguished wrestling journalist, historian, author, and coach with over 30 years of experience advancing amateur wrestling at youth, high school, and national levels. A lifelong competitor, he wrestled at Livermore High School and Chabot College, experiences that shaped his deep understanding of the sport.
Fontes has authored three books: History of Livermore High School Wrestling, Papachristos—a memoir of his college coach—and The History of Chabot College Wrestling, preserving the legacy of these programs. He is the founder of The Idaho Elite Report (TIER 1) and contributed for more than 25 years to the California Wrestler Newsletter, producing feature stories, rankings, and statewide coverage that brought national recognition to countless athletes and programs. His work has also appeared in Wrestling USA Magazine, Amateur Wrestling News, WIN Magazine, InterMat, IdahoSports.com, and SportStars Magazine. Fontes covered the California State Wrestling Championships annually for over two decades and currently contributes to Simple Man Wrestling as a writer and podcaster, connecting fans and athletes across the country.
As a coach and mentor, he develops athletes at youth, middle school, and high school levels, emphasizing technical skill, leadership, and team culture. His experience includes national team coordination, event leadership, and program promotion.
Fontes’ contributions have earned him the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Idaho Chapter) Lifetime Service Award, the Bob Dellinger Award for Nation’s Top Wrestling Writer, and the California Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award. He has also served on the boards of the Idaho and California Wrestling Halls of Fame.
Through coaching, journalism, and authorship, Al Fontes continues to preserve wrestling’s history, elevate its present, and inspire its future.
AARON LA FARGE – Coach | Writer | Promoter
Aaron La Farge has built an impressive wrestling career as a standout athlete and respected coach, achieving success at the high school, collegiate, and coaching levels while dedicating himself to developing the next generation of wrestlers.
A 2009 graduate of La Habra High School in California, La Farge established himself among Southern California’s elite wrestlers. He qualified twice for the CIF State Wrestling Championships, advancing to the Round of 12 both years.
He captured two CIF Divisional championships, qualified three times for the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet, and was twice named the Freeway League Wrestler of the Year. A three-time Daily News All-County selection and three-time All-Orange County selection by the Orange County Register. La Farge finished his prep career with 146 victories.
La Farge continued his wrestling career at Palomar College, earning 3C2A All-American honors as a freshman and Team MVP recognition before transferring to Montana State University–Northern, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Community Leadership.
At Montana State–Northern, he became a NAIA All-American as a sophomore and reached the No. 1 national ranking during his junior season. He concluded his collegiate career at Oklahoma City University, finishing as the NAIA National Runner-up, earning another All-American honor, and receiving the prestigious NAIA Champion of Character Award.
Over his college career, La Farge compiled more than 100 victories while competing against NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, and junior college opponents.
La Farge has coached at several successful programs, serving as an assistant coach at Capital High School in Montana, head coach at La Habra High School in California, assistant coach at Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma, and currently a head high school coach and junior high head coach in Oklahoma.
He is also the owner and head coach of the Oklahoma Jets Wrestling Club, where he has helped develop wrestlers at every stage of their careers.
His athletes have gone on to become state qualifiers, state medalists, state finalists, and state champions, reflecting his commitment to technical excellence, discipline, and character development.
From excelling as one of California’s top high school wrestlers to earning multiple collegiate All-American honors and national recognition, La Farge has demonstrated success throughout every stage of his wrestling journey. Today, he continues to invest that experience into coaching, helping young athletes reach their full potential while emphasizing leadership, accountability, and excellence both on and off the mat.