Section 2 Wrestling Hall of Fame

FRANK FRONHOFER II

Class of 2007

Salemx Generals

Frank Fronhofer II was the first in the family dynasty to wrestle for the Salem Generals and make the Fronhofer name one of the most respected in Section 2. He began wrestling when he was just four years old and with the coaching of three Hall of Fame coaches, his father Frank Sr., Mike Poplaski and ATWAs Joe DeMeo, Frank would become one of the most decorated wrestlers in Section 2 history.

Fronhofer would make the Salem varsity team as an 8th grader in 1984 and wrestle at 91 Lbs. Frank went 24-4-2 that year and won his first of FIVE Class D titles which was a Section 2 record. Frank was also a Silver and Bronze Medalist in the Empire State Games in Freestyle and Greco that year.

Frank would be Junior Eastern Champ twice in 1986 and 1987. He would be a NYS Junior National Champ in 1987 and two time NYS Junior Olympic Trials Champ in 1987 and 1988. Fronhofer finished with a sliver in the ESPOIR Nationals in 1987 and was a Gold Medalist in the Empire State Freestyle in 1986. Frank would be a 3 time Empire State Greco Gold Medalist in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

As a sophomore in 1987 Frank would dominate his weight class and using his famous tilt would win his first of three Section 2 Championships which would tie him for the Section 2 record. Fronhofer lost his last high school match as a sophomore while weighing 91 Lbs. when he entered the Washington County league tournament bumping up two weight classes to 105 Lbs. and lost against Vermont's 105-Lbs. State Champ. From that point on Frank would be nothing less than perfect as he won 84 consecutive matches going 37-0 as a junior and 36-0 as a senior. Frank would tie a Section 2 record by winning an incredible three New York State Championships when he defeated Lenny Combs of Madison in 1987 then defeated Combs again as a junior at 98 Lbs. in 1988, and won his third State Championship by defeating Juan Carlos Garcia of Sleepy Hollow at 105 Lbs. as a senior in 1989. Frank was only the 7th wrestler in New York State history to win three State titles.

Frank finished his phenomenal high school career with 158 wins which was the 3rd most in Section history at that time. He won 27 high school tournament championships including 16 consecutive tournament championships. Fronhofer was awarded the DeMeo Award for the most outstanding wrestler in Section 2 in 1989. Frank was named to the 1989 ASICS All-American Dream Team. Frank was the Valedictorian of his Salem Washington Academy class and was accepted to Harvard not just for wrestling but because of his impressively high academic standards. Fronhofer was just the second wrestler in Section 2 history to be selected to the USA All Star wrestling team and competed in the All Star competition in 1989.

Studying mathematics and wrestling for Harvard University as a freshman in 1990, Frank would make the starting team as its 126 pounder. Frank moved up to 142 Lbs. his sophomore year. As a junior in 1992 Frank finished 4th in the Coast Guard Tournament and was also 4th in the Eastern EIWA tournament at 150 Lbs. As a senior in 1993 Fronhofer would peak and finished 3rd in the Coast Guard tournament, 1st at the Millersville University tournament and Frank was the first Harvard wrestler in 50 years to win an Eastern title by finishing first in the EIWA at 150 Lbs.

Frank would qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament in 1993 and win two matches and just miss making All-American honors. Frank was just the second wrestler at that time in Harvard history to win the exclusive William J. Bingham Award as the senior class outstanding male athlete.

After graduating from Harvard, Frank would make his way back to his alma mater Salem Washington Academy as a math teacher and a wrestling coach alongside his mentors Frank Sr. and Mike Poplaski. Frank would eventually take over as the head wrestling coach and carry on the winning traditions for the Generals. Frank was able to coach his son Luke alongside his father to a Section 2 championship in 2015.

Frank was inducted into the Section 2 wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also awarded the Jeff Blatnick Inspiration Award in 2017. Frank lives in the Salem area with his wife Laurie of 23 years where he still teaches mathematics and coaches wrestling. They have two children Luke and Scout.