On January 31, the day before his bout with Iowa’s NCAA Championships runner-up Drake Ayala, Penn State wrestler Kurt McHenry made a drastic change to his Instagram account. Months later, we finally know what Kurt is up to.

McHenry’s Instagram was what you would expect from a Penn State wrestler: hundreds of posts with glossy promotional content tailor-made for him. But with all of his highlight reels gone, eccentric art filled the void.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HTE (@healthy.transformative.energy)

Healthy Transformation Energy (HTE) is his new passion.

“It’s an entertainment company that I started a few months ago with the purpose of creating spaces that allow people to dance and have a good time,” McHenry said. “I love wrestling, but I also love music. I love attending live music events, festivals, and nightclubs. The unity that music has the ability to create is just so awesome to me.”

McHenry was a three-time Maryland State Champion, three-time Beast of the East, two-time Cadet World Champ (one of three Americans to do so), and had a 147-6 high school record. He clinched the championship at the Findlay Open with Michigan before making the move to Penn State in 2023.

McHenry isn’t done with wrestling, but he has found a new passion on the dance floor.

“Some of the places where I’ve felt safest have been dance floors. I’ve always had so much appreciation for an awesome dance floor because it can be a powerful tool to transform lives for the better,” said McHenry, drawing from his own experience. “I want to create spaces with entertainment for the purpose of growth, where people can laugh, dance, and ultimately leave feeling better than before.”

The Spring Wub Session was Kurt’s first event. On Friday, April 3, at Manny’s Live Performance Space on 101 Hiester Street, HTE brought five DJs and other entertainers for a boiler room-style event.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HTE (@healthy.transformative.energy)

“I’m super excited for the show. I’ve played a decent amount of shows around campus but very few downtown, so I think it’s a great opportunity. I have a mad set full of twists and turns, and I’m ready to keep it over the top,” Otterson, one of the featured DJs who also performed at THON, said before the event.

McHenry’s flipping the script on nightlife. While other companies are all about packing people in, pushing pricey drinks, and chasing clout with big-name acts, Kurt’s asking bigger questions.

“How can I do this in the healthiest way possible and still make it fun as hell?” he said.

For McHenry, it’s not about turning a profit. He wants people to leave his events feeling like they’ve gained something.

“I’ve been to so many shows that changed my life,” McHenry said. “I want to give people that same kind of moment. The goal is to create a space where folks can dance, laugh, and maybe even heal a little. I’m thinking about how to pull out the best parts of the music scene and leave behind the mess.”

In terms of music, McHenry is into the niche stuff.

“I want to play the music that people don’t know they need yet,” he said. “When I leave the show with eight new songs I’ve never heard before, it’s like unlocking new perspectives.”

His dream lineup? Think Tool, Willow Smith, Tipper, and Subtronics all sharing a stage.

“That would go crazy,” he said.

And while he’s dreaming big, McHenry’s keeping his heart local.

“We’ve got so many dope artists right here in State College,” McHenry said. “Otterson, Ken G, the Sunday Love Club, Jayee, Mellow Honey, The Fifth Wall — they all rip, and I want to help give them the spotlight they deserve.”