A Family Tradition

Turna is a name well known in Penn Wrestling. Sophomore Vardaan Turna has been wrestling through the Penn system for years alongside his cousin, Verinder Turna, who is also a sophomore at Penn.

Through Penn, there have been two clubs within the span of Vardaan Turna’s Wrestling career. When he first started, he went to the aptly named “Penn Wrestling Club” that was run at Penn through Head Coach Brad Harper. In later years, and into present day, Vardaan Turna trains in his off season on a team called Midwest X-treme Wrestling.

Vardaan Turna has been building his strengths for a long time. He is well aware of what he can do personally on the wrestling mat.

“My biggest strength has always been that I can always find the perfect timing and get it. The best position to throw my opponents. Greco has always been my best style of wrestling. My other strength is more of an exterior strength which is that I always show up to as many practice, open mat, or any extra work outs. I like to take advantage of all the opportunities I can get at any time,” Vardaan Turna said.

As for Vardaan Turna’s cousin, Verinder , the association with the Penn Wrestling program and coaches are still present, but the two cousins’ careers have taken very different paths.

“When I first was injured, I thought that I would have to let go of the sport I love. I was worried that it would pull me away from my sport and my cousin. I now know that’s not the case and I appreciate Vardaan for letting me help him in practice and in matches,” Verinder said.

Before Verinder’s injury, he and his cousin paired together to make a great team on the mat.

“Vardaan always pushed me to be better,” says Verinder, “whether it was as a person or as a wrestler. The friendly competition between us also helped when it comes to growing each other as people. I wouldn’t be who I am as a person if it wasn’t for Vardaan”

Vardaan is an athlete that devotes his life to his sport. He attends morning wrestling practices at 6 am, is in the wrestling room almost every week day even in the off season, and has a consistent weight-training regimen through the Penn Strength and Conditioning Program.

“This summer I would have bulked up to around 160-70 to gain muscle but due to a personal problem I wasn’t able to bulk I now weigh around the same as last season which was 145-150 but I have lost fat and gained muscle, but I have been at this for 12 years and I have developed my own way of cutting which is something that a lot of wrestlers don’t do,” Vardaan said.

Vardaan’s unwavering dedication to wrestling illustrates the profound impact of persistence and hard work. His journey through the Penn Wrestling program, fueled by influential coaches and a strong family bond, has shaped him into a formidable athlete. The joint spirit he shares with his cousin Verinder has fostered mutual growth, even amid setbacks like injuries. Vardaan’s commitment to training, both on and off the mat, exemplifies his determination to excel in the sport he loves.