In its formative years, organizers wondered what could lie ahead for the Bill Fralic Memorial Award, created to honor a legend and annually highlight the WPIAL’s top two-way football lineman.
Would it do justice to Fralic, who would have loathed the idea, respectfully and poignantly?
Did it have staying power, and could it become a tradition, like the NCAA’s Outland Trophy?
They pinned their hopes on the popularity of its namesake, a growing list of winners and the prestige of an annual breakfast banquet to carry it forward and give the prize a long-lasting presence.
A subtle way to honor an all-time great has become a postseason custom on the WPIAL calendar since it began in 2019. Many stacks of pancakes later, the award is as strong as the man for whom it is named.
Even the award itself has grown. The first year, it weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. The next year, it was twice as heavy — 15 pounds, 2 ounces. It takes two arms and plenty of elbow grease to lift the mini statue carved into the likeness of the former star at Penn Hills, Pitt and the NFL.
“We wanted to give prominence to Bill being a two-way player who dominated on both sides of the ball, accentuating the special talent he was,” organizer Dan Miller said.
This year’s winner — the seventh overall — will be announced Saturday morning during a pancake breakfast at The Longue Vue Club in Verona. Fralic is often credited for inventing the “pancake block.”
The finalists, all seniors, are: Lincoln Hoke of North Allegheny (Class 6A), Roberson Louis-Jeune of Gateway (5A), Jayden Shaffer of New Castle (4A), Dylan Pitzer of Derry (3A), Connor Bogdanski of Apollo-Ridge (2A) and Avaughn Pompey of Clairton (A).
A winner has never come from 2A or A. There have been three 5A winners, two from 3A and one from 4A.
Past winners have worked to uphold their reputation as members of the Fralic Club, all proud owners of the weighty award in the likeness of the bruising Fralic.
So, what are the past winners up to these days?
• Logan Danielson, Thomas Jefferson (2019 winner) — A redshirt junior at IUP, he was a starting defensive tackle who helped the Crimson Hawks reach the NCAA Division II playoffs this season.
Danielson (6-2, 285) had 29 tackles in nine games, seven for loss, and a fumble recovery.
• Miguel Jackson, Pine-Richland (2020) — A standout with Division I staying power, Jackson (6-0, 295) spent three seasons at Charlotte where he played in 27 games and started 10 of them. Last year, he played at Utah State but missed much of the season with an injury.
This year, “Migo” played his graduate season at Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference but saw limited action early as he worked his way back to form.
• Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley (2021) — FitzSimmons (6-3, 295), a defensive lineman, played this season as a redshirt junior at Pitt. Through nine games, he had 11 tackles, with six coming against West Virginia in the “Backyard Brawl.” Last season, he started nine games after coming back from an injury he sustained in the preseason.
• Joe Enick, Penn-Trafford (2022) — The long-haired offensive lineman who now sports a bushy beard, he experimented with the NCAA transfer portal not long after winning the Fralic. He served his redshirt year in 2023 at Central Michigan, but transferred closer to home, to Saint Francis in Loretto.
Enick (6-2, 288) was a regular in the lineup this season.
• Courtney Dunn, McKeesport (2023) — A sophomore defensive lineman at Cal (Pa.), Dunn is finding his way in the Division II PSAC. After playing in 12 games as a freshman, he was a regular in the Vulcans’ defense this fall and looks like a future impact player.
• Nate Stohl, Upper St. Clair (2024) — A freshman at Princeton, Stohol (6-2, 265) played right away this season as a starting defensive lineman. He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Week after a road win against Lafayette when he made four tackles.
Past Fralic finalists:
2019: Zach Crutchman (Jeannette), Gerald Comedy (Washington), Elijah Mike (Aliquippa), Logan Danielson (Thomas Jefferson), Brenden Luffey (Moon), Fintan Brose (Hempfield).
2020: Dorien Ford (Baldwin), Miguel Jackson (Pine-Richland), Colin Lyons (McKeesport), Eli Podgorski (South Park), Mitch Miles (Laurel), Aaron Gunn (Union).
2021: Donovan Hinish (Central Catholic), Trent Fraley (Moon), Billy McChesney (Greensburg Salem), Sean FitzSimmons (Central Valley), Mason Manos (Neshannock), Kanye Hawkins (Clairton).
2022: Kade Capristo (Mt. Lebanon), Joe Enick (Penn-Trafford), Ty Banco (Trinity), Steve Macheska (Belle Vernon), Greg Smith (Steel Valley), Tyrese Washington-Law (Clairton).
2023: Cameron Chmura (North Allegheny), Ryan Cory (Pine-Richland), Courtney Dunn (McKeesport), Rico Steele (West Mifflin), Mike Crist (Steel Valley), Cam Branch (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart).
2024: Jack Yatchenko (North Allegheny), Nate Stohl (Upper St. Clair), Shepherd Turk (Thomas Jefferson), Chris Climes (Elizabeth Forward), Parker Cunningham (South Park), Braiden Sudor (Bishop Canevin).