Wrestling often is viewed as an individual sport, and understandably so, because it’s one on one on the mat every match.
But Fox Chapel coach Michael Frank has watched his group work to master the art of the dual.
As a team, the Foxes worked together last season to win their first section title since 1971 and with 10 wrestlers returning who won at least 15 matches, expectations are high once again.
“For the outsider to understand how each wrestler plays a vital role in a dual meet … it’s a complicated matter,” Frank said. “Most people see wrestling as an individual sport and at the heart of it, it truly is. You have to go out and handle your own business, but when you watch how it develops into a team aspect … it’s amazing.
“I’m blessed to watch these guys be selfish when it comes to bettering themselves in certain aspects of wrestling, but then be absolutely selfless when it comes to helping their practice partner or teammate work to reach their goals. In the long run, that comes back to help the team. It’s such a unique sport with that. To anyone that’s been involved in it, I think they get it.”
The Foxes won a first round match in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs against Peters Township before falling to Connellsville in the quarterfinals.
Landon Funk, Youssef Abdelsalam, Milo Chiu, Joey Geller, Adam Haines, D’Angelo Hamilton, Andrew Krasta, Daniel Noel, Jack Viti and Michael Worsen are the 10 returning wrestlers who won 15-plus matches last year.
Only two wrestlers from the starting lineup, Alexander Kauffman and Josh Alexander, graduated.
Funk went 31-7 and won the 115-pound Allegheny County Championship. Hamilton was 30-12 and Worsen was 27-8.
All 10 returners are juniors or seniors, and with some younger guys in the mix as well, there’s plenty of depth for the Foxes to choose from.
“We’re just over 40 wrestlers on the varsity squad, and a lot of them are seniors and juniors that have varsity experience,” Frank said. “They have seen what it’s like to wrestle at a high level. It makes coaching so fun because we have options at a bunch of weights — and not only is it depth, but it’s depth that has wrestled in a varsity room for a while and has a lot of varsity matches under their belt.”
Fox Chapel is in Section 5-3A with Kiski Area, Hampton, Indiana and Armstrong. Hampton and Indiana bumped up from Class 2A.
There will be a few rule changes when it comes to scoring this year. The PIAA adjusted the scoring system so it is closer to NCAA wrestling and more points are up for grabs.
Frank believes it will force more wrestlers to be on offense throughout an entire match.
“Takedowns used to be worth two points, and now they’re worth three,” Frank said. “You can get two, three and four back points in a match. Scoring should be up, and that’s going to be a big change for wrestlers and coaches with how that changes the strategy within matches. In my 36 years being involved in wrestling as a competitor and coach, my wrestling math was pretty set and now it’s totally different, so that’ll be a change for everyone.
“I think it’ll be good. The goal from what I’ve seen is they’re trying to promote more offense, activity and a better pace overall to matches.”