United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Valley Forge Wrestling 23-24

Behind a rallying cry of unity, the 2023-2024 Patriots Wrestling team officially began the season this past week. The team is led this year by new head coach Chris Finowski who joins Valley Forge after decades at Parma Senior High. With 25 years of coaching experience, including 13 seasons behind wrestling legend Pat Semary (Kent State Athletic Hall of Fame ‘94, VF Athletic Hall of Fame ‘14, Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame ‘15) and six years as a head coach. Finowski’s legacy at Parma includes helping coach four N.O.C championship teams, a GLC championship as a head coach and one as an assistant, and laying the groundwork for dozens of individual state qualifiers and placers.

Remaining on staff to help strengthen the bond of the combined squad include last year’s head coach Mark Phillips and assistant coach Mike Pelton. As Valley Forge coaches for the past decade, Phillips and Pelton, who himself is a Valley Forge graduate, have also had their share of recent successes and look forward to helping lead one of Forge’s largest teams in years. Rounding out the staff is the dynamic Terry Juhn who coached at PSH with Finowski for the last several years.

Patriot coaches and wrestlers share high expectations for the season, and the foundation for success was laid last spring. Following the close of competition in 22-23, both teams embraced the opportunity provided by the merger and wrestled together in a number of preseason and offseason activities. The Patriots look to build on the successes of last season, including the return of two district qualifiers: Nathan Hale and Anthony Wing. Joining these two team leaders are Parma’s district qualifiers: Logan Mariner, Danny Grayson, and senior Bryson Ziol. Fighting alongside these Patriots are nearly 40 other student-athletes. 

The Patriots first competition of the year is December 8-9 at the Lorain Titan Classic tournament.

Brian Brochetti

Valley Forge High School