Class of 2020

Leigh Frye won the section three title in 1964 at 133 pounds wrestling for Herkimer High under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Coach Hank Palczynski. Leigh wrestled in the NYS Intersectional tournament at Walt Whitman High in Huntington Station Long Island and lost in the semi-final round. At Union College he was three year captain of the wrestling team which posted an undefeated season for the 1967-68 season, an achievement that earned the team members induction into the Union College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team of distinction in 2013. Leigh attended graduate school at the University of California, Riverside, where he earned an advanced degree in chemistry and met and married his wife, Teresa Green. While in Southern California he coached wrestling at UCR for two years, taught chemistry and physics at Rubidoux High School (Riverside), and officiated for twelve years. In 1980 Leigh was selected to officiate the California State High School Wrestling Championships at Cal State LA.

In 1980 Leigh and family returned to the Mohawk Valley where he taught science at Frankfort-Schuyler High and coached wrestling for 17 years. Some of his teams achievements include CVC/IVL League Champs in 1989, CNY Bronze Division Champs in 1996, and CSC West Division Co-Champs in 96. Brian Grippe, Sam Scalise, and Dennis LoGalbo placed 2nd, 2nd, and 4th respectively in the Section 3 Finals, Charlie Scaparo was a Section 3 Champion at 132 and placed 6th in NYS in 1996. Leigh believes that one of his proudest accomplishments as coach at FS was starting the Frankfort Invitational Wrestling Tournament which ran from 1986 - 1996. This was inspired by his long time best friend and assistant coach, Charlie Scaparo, Sr. As always, parents and booster club members helped to make it all happen.

Coach Frye retired from coaching in 1998 when his son moved to varsity and was wrestling for Bob Bush at Ilion High. Leigh retired from teaching after 32 years in 2009 but continued officiating wrestling with the CNYWOA officials association. He has been a section three official for 22 years and has served on the executive board and scholarship committees for the CNYWOA. Leigh has been secretary/treasurer for the CNYWOA for the past 16 years.

Leigh and his wife of 46 years, Teresa, live in Ilion and are the proud parents of two children, Michelle(Ilion) and Leigh(Montana); as well as grandparents of two energetic grandsons. He enjoys skiing at Gore and Whiteface in the winter as well as growing tomatoes and hot peppers in the summer. Most enjoyable is playing with his grandsons and watching them in youth sports.