Marty Stewart | Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, TRIB-LIVE
The Fox Chapel wrestling team, coached by veteran Ron Frank, finished with a 9-4 record last year, which included a 3-2 section mark.
Frank and his assistant coaches, Bob Siar and Michael Frank, will have to find a way to replace the 331 career wins generated by graduates Andrew Kopco (75), Austin Pisano (70), Tristan Houser (60), Mike Duray (32) and Derrin Dietz (94).
This year’s team will be a youthful one, and the potential starters are sophomores Jordana Matamoros and Magnue Loeffler at 106 pounds; freshman Gunnar Loeffler at 113; junior Juan Morales at 120; freshman Alex Wecht at 126; freshman Josh Miller at 132; sophomore Avery Bursick at 138; junior RJ Okunewick and sophomore Gavin McDowell at 145; sophomore Branham Channell and senior Mitch Zukerman at 152; senior Bill Myers at 160; sophomore Sean Mahon at 170; senior Mike Mahon at 182; junior Zach Carcy and freshman Donovan Cutchember at 195; junior Luke Brown and freshman Eddie Farrell at 220; and senior Jared Pegher at heavyweight.
“We have some solid experience in the top of the lineup,” Frank said. “Mike Mahon and Zach Carcy are returning PIAA qualifiers and Pegher had 29 wins last year. Myers, Bursick, Morales and Brown are returning letter winners.”
Frank also expects the newcomers to make an immediate impact.
“Our freshmen wrestlers have proven to be a group of hard-working athletes,” he said. “Areas of concern for us include the lack of depth and experience in some weight classes. We’re also facing decreasing numbers in our varsity and middle school programs.”
Frank said North Allegheny, Hempfield and Kiski Area will be the teams to beat.