H-S Athlete of the Week: Zach Franks, Connellsville
NAME: Zach Franks
SCHOOL: Connellsville
GRADE: Senior
SPORT: Wrestling
FRANKS’ WEEK: The Falcons’ 114-pound starter won all four of his bouts in the Class 3A state dual meet tournament last week, including his 100th-career victory on Saturday against Nazareth in the consolation quarterfinals.
Franks, who has a season record of 23-6 and career mark of 100-52, recorded a fall in 1:36 during Connellsville’s dual meet against the Blue Eagles inside 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown.
Franks’ accomplishment was announced over the public address immediately following his win. Franks was presented with a banner to commemorate his achievement.
“It was neat to be presented with the banner and all, but I wish we could have won the match as a team,” Franks said. “It’s nice to get a pin, but I always thought I would win my 100th match in a more competitive bout. It has been a goal of mine to win 100 matches in my career.”
Franks opened the week with two wins on Tuesday in the preliminary and first round of the Class 3A state dual meet tournament at Gettysburg High School. He received a forfeit over LaSalle College in the preliminary dual meet and earned a 4-1 decision over the Warriors’ Jayden Black in the first round.
Franks won by fall in 36 seconds against Norwin on Friday night at the Cambria County War Memorial in the quarterfinals.
Franks, who has started all four years of his high school career at Connellsville, was disappointed that the Falcons weren’t able to improve upon their third-place finish at last year’s state dual meet tournament, but enjoyed the experience.
“The environment in Johnstown was better than last year in Altoona with the tournament being held in an arena, but it is sad to finish our team portion of the season this way,” Franks said. “As a team, we are a tight group, and we wanted to have a better, but it was still a good season.”
CLIMB THE LADDER: Franks has improved upon his win total each season, as he was 16-12 as a freshman and 25-17 his sophomore year before sporting a 36-17 mark last year, which included his first trip to the individual state tournament.
Franks is looking forward to a return trip to the PIAA Class 3A Individual Championships, and he hopes to reach the podium this season. Franks was one victory shy of placing in the top eight last year at 114.
“My main goal this year is to qualify for the state tournament and make it on the podium as the top eight in the state,” Franks said. “I didn’t really think I would get to 100 wins after my freshman season, but I have been fortunate to stay at 114 and worked on some technique in the offseason to help me this year. I would say last year was kind of my coming-out season where people started to notice me.”
JUST FOR FUN: There is a contrast between wrestling and track & field, but Franks has enjoyed his time competing in the pole vault at Connellsville. He has a personal record of 13-10 in the pole vault. Mason Franks was a pole vaulter in high school, and had the Falcons’ school record of 13-03 before last season. Zach Franks would like to qualify for the state meet in the pole vault.
“You need to clear 14-03 to qualify for states, and I hope I can get that this year,” Zach Franks said. “I broke my brother’s school record last year. I believe the reason we have had success in pole vault is because we are smaller and know how to maneuver our bodies. I think wrestling helped us with that, too.
“The track & field season is almost like a social time for me. I’m serious and want to do well, but it doesn’t have that intensity of wrestling, which is pretty much like a fight without punching and kicking.”
LAST DANCE: Franks will not wrestle beyond high school, but he will attend Penn State and study business. Franks, who started wrestling when he was six, will finish his career as a competitor without any regrets.
“I love this sport, and I don’t have any regrets,” Franks said. “My brother, Mason, was also a wrestler, and I followed him onto the mat. I plan on starting in college at Penn State Altoona before heading to the main campus.
“I won’t be wrestling on the varsity team, but if there is a club to continue with the sport, I would definitely join. If my job allows it in regards to my career, I would also coach.”
GET TO WORK: Franks works in maintenance at Sunoco for the Honey Bear stores in the area.
“I do maintenance for all the stores,” Franks said. “It is nice to earn some extra money while I am still in school. With school, work, wrestling and track & field, I don’t have too much free time.”
SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE: Franks was in the running to be “Mr. Irresistible” at Connellsville but he didn’t earn the crown.
“I was in it, and it was pretty cool,” Franks said. “I didn’t win it or anything, so I just took in the experience.”