By Anders Jorstad – STAFF WRITER
Hofstra Pride wrestler Frank Affronti has overcome many obstacles to get to where he is today. A native of Ontario, New York, the wrestler began his career at an early age.
“I was on the mat in diapers,” Affronti said jokingly. “[I was] maybe three years old.” Affronti’s father encouraged him to begin wrestling at a young age and he never turned back. “I guess by the time I realized that I was on the mat, all of my friends were there. That’s just what I was doing.”
Affronti’s passion for the sport continued throughout his childhood and into high school. A longtime relationship between Affronti and a coach of his led him to the Pride. “There was a guy that I trained with back home, he’s from my area,” Affronti recalled. “His name is Gregor Gillespie. He went to Edinboro and he was a national champ and a four-time All-American. He moved home when I was in eighth or ninth grade and I started working out with him. I worked out with him my whole high school career. My junior year, he got a job coaching [at Hofstra]. That was right when I started getting recruited by places. The coach at the time called me up and was like, ‘Hey, do you want to come on a visit?’ I went on the visit and I signed my letter of intent in October before my senior season.”
Gillespie only remained at Hofstra for a single season but Affronti stayed true to his commitment. He would go on to capture third place in the New York State High School Championships in the 160-pound class his senior season. Affronti redshirted his first season at Hofstra but still received first place honors in the 165-pound category at the Franklin and Marshall Open in January 2014.
Affronti made the shift to the 174-pound class, which is where he wrestles today.
“My redshirt freshman year, the first year I was in the lineup, we got a sixth-year senior transfer. This kid named Joe Booth. He transferred from Drexel for one year and was ranked top 10 in the country. He was a 165-pounder. I couldn’t beat him. So I went up to 174,” Affronti said.
“I wasn’t going to not start for another year. I couldn’t handle it. I hated not starting my true freshman year when I was redshirting. I wanted to be in the lineup, I wanted to compete. I didn’t care what weight I was at as long as I was competing. That’s why I started going up to that weight class. I just kind of got bigger and filled in, and my style fits better in that weight class than in the 165.”
Affronti has been successful in the 174-pound weight class, ranking 29th in the nation in the latest NCAA Coaches Panel rankings among his peers. However, despite being ranked, the wrestler isn’t quite satisfied with where he is yet. “As long as there are people in front of me, there’s work to do,” Affronti said.
“It’s nice to get recognition for hard work, but your work isn’t finished until you’re at the top of the podium. Right now that’s not where I am.”
Affronti’s had to overcome many roadblocks to achieve his goals so far. “My class schedule is a little crazy,” he said. “I’m taking nine classes this semester. Nine engineering classes. So I can’t practice with the team. I practice with the team one day a week. So other days I have to come in multiple different [times]. I don’t have a full block of time where I can wrestle for two hours. I have lift in the morning, and then I have to come wrestle for an hour, come back and wrestle again for an hour. Then if I have weight training I have to come back again. So [Hofstra assistant coach Dan Vallimont] comes in and wrestles with me when I need him to and does practices with me.”
Despite a rigorous class schedule and a busy training routine, Affronti is determined to reach the top of that podium. “I want to go to the national tournament and be an All-American,” he said.
With a little over a month to go until the national tournament, Affronti appears to be on the right track to succeed. His 25 wins this season rank second on the team heading into the Edinboro Open this past weekend.
Affronti and the rest of the Pride will look for a victory in their final home match of the season on Feb. 14 when the Pride takes on the Drexel Dragons at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition complex with the contest commencing at 4 p.m.
