Fox Chapel wrestlers, amid breakthrough season, look to make noise at county tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, January 20, 2024 | 9:14 PM

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Fox Chapel wrestling coach Michael Frank wasn’t even born the last time the Foxes won a section title.

But that changed this year as the Foxes have clinched at least a share of the Section 1-3A title. A win Wednesday against Central Catholic will give them the outright title, something they don’t want to share.

Fox Chapel’s only other title was in 1971. Nine years later, Michael’s dad, Ron, took over the program, and he’s still on the staff.

Because Ron is on the school board, he’s not allowed to have a paid position on the staff. Ron serves as a volunteer assistant coach and director of the Alle­gheny County Wrestling Tournament. Fox Chapel is the host of the tournament.

The Foxes are 11-1 overall and ranked No. 10 by Trib HSSN. Their only loss was against No. 3 Franklin Regional on Dec. 9 at the Hampton Dawg Duals.

Fox Chapel enters the final day of the county tournament Sunday in sixth place with 111.5 points, behind Thomas Jefferson (141.5), Bethel Park (138), Plum (136), Pine-Richland (125) and North Allegheny (120). The start of the tournament was delayed a day because of snow and cold Friday.

The Foxes have advanced one wrestler, junior Landon Funk, to the semifinals at 11 a.m. Sunday and have 11 others in the consolation rounds. Funk, a 114-pounder, recorded three pins, including against Carrick’s Jaidon Jones in the quarterfinals. Funk will face North Hills senior Giavonie Schipani in the semifinals.

Fox Chapel wrestlers falling in the quarterfinals were Sam Ummer (139), Milo Chiu (160), Jack Viti (172) and heavyweight D’Angelo Hamilton.

“We hoped for a good season,” Michael Frank said. “Things have fallen into place. We had a handful of juniors start as freshmen, and we knew we’d have a solid team. Things have turned out pretty well so far.”

Coach Frank was eager to see how his team would perform in the county tournament.

He said at least 15 wrestlers have started in the youth program and stuck it out. He added that even though some are not starters, they know their roles as backups or practice partners and are ready if called upon.

“We’ve had really successful teams in the past,” Michael Frank said. “We finally were able to break through. We defeated Plum twice and Kiski Area. The only loss was to Franklin Regional, and we’re looking forward to running it back against them in the team tournament.”

Ron Frank said the program has continued to improve after he had to step away as head coach. He regularly attends practice and also helps teach the girls team.

“We’ve had years when we went 29-4 and 12-2 and didn’t win the section,” Ron Frank said. “We’ve had some good teams, but this team has been wrestling together from elementary school. We also have a great coaching staff. It’s pretty special.”

The two wrestlers looking to become three-time champions, Quaker Valley senior Jack Kazalas and Thomas Jefferson junior Bode Marlow, advanced to the semifinals.

Kazalas pinned Pine-Richland’s Ryan Brunecz in the Round of 32, used a takedown and two-point nearfall points to edge Fox Chapel’s Adam Haines, 10-7, in the Round of 16 and beat Chartiers Valley’s Logan Connolly, 22-7, in the quarterfinals. Kazalas will face Bethel Park’s Mason Kernan in the semis.

Marlow rolled into the quarterfinals with pins against Bethel Park’s Cordon McDonnell in the Round of 32, West Mifflin’s Ahmad Brown in the Round of 16 and Fox Chapel’s Miko Chiu in the quarterfinals. Marlow will face Chartiers Valley’s Michael Lawrence in the semis.

Other wrestlers looking for their second titles are: Bethel Park’s Mason Kernan (133), Plum’s Owen Campbell (121), Plum’s Rylen Campbell (121), Thomas Jefferson’s Maddox Shaw (145), Pine-Richland’s Spencer Vaughn (172) and North Allegheny’s Aiden Buggey (215).

The Campbells will face each other in the 121 semifinals.

The only wrestler denied a chance at a second title was North Allegheny’s Casey Walker (127).

Thomas Jefferson has seven in the semifinals, Plum has five while Bethel Park, Pine-Richland, North Allegheny and Central Catholic have four each.

The finals are slated to beginning around 4:30 p.m.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Fox Chapel