Meet the Fan Who Outlasted Sports Legends and Got $250K from Tom Brady (Exclusive)

A 39-year-old P.E. teacher from Pennsylvania outlasted professional athletes and finished third at the Fanatics Games.

Matt Dennish, of York, Pa., took part in eight sports-themed skill competitions, featuring star athletes and fans while at Fanatics Fest over the weekend, coming in just behind UFC fighter Justin Gaethje and Tom Brady.

Dennish won a 2003-04 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James rookie card, which he later sold to Brady in exchange for $250,000, plus a signed card and jersey from the seven-time Super Bowl champ.

For Dennish, the result was all part of his strategy, he told PEOPLE midway through the event.

“I was just trying to prepare as much as possible, but also stay calm and relaxed,” Dennish said.
“And I knew that's kind of what it was going to come down to, is the mental side of things. I know I have the skills to compete, which is when, in the moment, I can dial it in when the light's bright.”

Dennish shared that he was able to feel more comfortable about competing at the “massive” venue at the Javits Center in New York City because he was able to “poke” his head in and see the layout the night before.

Competitors — including NBA star James Harden and retired NFL star Eli Manning — and fans took part in competitions including quarterback skills, soccer goal-scoring, basketball shooting (around the world), baseball pitching accuracy, a hockey shooting challenge, a UFC striking challenge, a closest-to-the-pin golf challenge and a WWE Superstar entrance, according to ESPN.

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Dennish told PEOPLE that the latter event was a challenge for him.

“My focus was on the WWE walkout, and that's not my forte,” he said. “And I just was really nervous about that and I was like, 'Let's just get that one out of the way. I'm going to go all in, not going to slack on this.' I did, and I was happy with the score.”

The 6’6” teacher said the competition reminded him of another sports success story he had last year, when he hit a half-court shot at a Philadelphia 76ers game.

“I just went to do it thinking nobody would know about it,” he recalled. “Well, of course I made it and it just blew up and it was an exhausting week. So [I’m] kind of picturing the same thing, at least at summer vacation.”

By the end, Dennish had manifested his success, leaving Harden (fourth place), Manning (fifth place) and other pro athletes in his dust.

The best part of the day for Dennish?

“I think just the energy in the building,” he said. “Just seeing the excitement. I don't have any kids myself, but my niece and nephew were there and not huge sports fans, but to see them be able to do things and interact with just all the sports world and the business side of things and seeing all the excited fans dressed up … [it was] just a pretty cool environment.”