Cheltenham and Abington high schools have produced two graduates who went on to professional wrestling careers: Tyrone Scott and Charles Barsky.
Tyrone Scott, aka “Maven Bentley”
Tyrone M. Scott, a 1995 Cheltenham High School graduate, retired from the professional wrestling scene in December 2021. He promoted several independent wrestling federations in Pennsylvania and had wrestled under the stage name “Maven Bentley” over the past 20 years.
Scott is known for actor/producer roles in The Wrestler (2008), WXW Rage TV (1996) and Bleeding Black & Yellow: The UltraViolent Dream (2015). He was the first African American pro-wrestling promoter in Pennsylvania history, and his influence opened doors for minorities that didn’t exist prior to his participation in the business.
From his retirement announcement:
Last night, at Studio Z, I performed at what I hope was my very last professional wrestling show. For 20 years, I have had the privilege of entertaining crowds either directly or indirectly as “Maven Bentley”. That era has ended. The Maven Bentley Association, LLC will still exist and my brother Brendon will take the promotion services division (get at him at wyncote19095@yahoo.com) to ensure licensing and insurance is available to indie promotions.
CZW will continue with a new management team that represents more diversity than I have ever seen in any wrestling promotion.
I am proud for any part I had in opening doors for nonwhite, nonmale wrestling enthusiasts to become part of the business. In 1996 when I was hosting a local wrestling cable access how, many of my Black friends all told me how corny that Whyte stuff was. Ten years later I was travelling the world on other people’s dimes making money to support my family as (what I am told) was the first African American promoter in PA history.
In retirement, Scott plans to continue voiceover work and entertainment consulting through the Elkins Park-affiliated Maven Bentley Association, LLC. His efforts with various charities include the Philadelphia-based First Up early education program where he serves as the Director of Government and External Affairs.
Scott earned a bachelors degree in marketing from Millersville University and an MBA from St. Joseph’s University. From 2019-2020, he served on the Cheltenham School District Board of Directors before moving out of state.
In addition to wrestling at CHS, Scott was a member of the African American Student League and manager of the freshman football team.
For more on Scott’s professional wrestling career, you can click here.
Charles Max Barsky, aka “David Starr”
Barsky, a 2009 graduate of Abington Senior High School, has wrestled for promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, Evolve, Progress Wrestling, Revolution Pro Wrestling, Westside Xtreme Wrestling, Over the Top Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
He held championships and won tournaments for companies based in Australia, North America, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
At Abington, Barsky was third all-time with 92 wins and placed in the top 16 at the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Nationals between 149 and 157 pounds. He attended Elizabethtown College and West Chester University and was a National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National qualifier at 157 pounds.
In 2019, he collaborated with Equity to form “We the Independent”, a fundraising organization for the unionization of professional wrestlers.
A 2020 sexual abuse allegation by a former girlfriend, which Barsky denied, led to his departure from the wrestling industry.
For more on Barsky’s wrestling and acting career, you can visit his IMDB.com biography.
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Information courtesy of Chuck Langerman, local historian; photos courtesy of Cheltenham School District, Wikipedia Commons, TNAgutcheck.com