AGR Male Athlete of the Year showed how hard he is willing to work to be great
Penfield junior Frankie Gissendanner Jr. is one of the best wrestlers to come through Section V, but he doesn't consider wrestling his first love.
Gissendanner was playing football when he was 8-years-old when his coach asked him if wrestling was something he’d like to try.
Football is passion of Gissendanner’s, but he essentially plays it for fun. It is wrestling that has brought him to new heights as a three-time state champion and national champion.
So does he work himself into wrestling shape in the spring? Undoubtedly, but he does so while playing lacrosse on the JV team.
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It's that combination and his willingness to pursue his passions as well as try different sports he wants to improve in that has made Gissendanner the AGR Male Athlete of the Year.
“I’ve played football all my life and I love it, and I did lacrosse because we were a couple men down and I did it for the team,” Gissendanner said. “Unified basketball, same thing. If I have some time to help kids with special needs, I’ll do it. I love helping out.”
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Gissendanner has said if he could be in the NFL tomorrow, he would be, and said he still wants to play in college. But that will be left up to his college wrestling coach since that’s what’s going to earn him a scholarship.
This past July, Gissendanner became the second Section V wrestler to win his weight-class at the USA Wrestling ASICS National Championships. This past season, the 152-pounder won his fifth straight Monroe County title and fifth straight sectional title to go along with the three straight state crowns.
Penfield football coach Jay Johnson said how great of a teammate Gissendanner is despite the accolades in wrestling.
"You know, the thing about him is, he's a competitor," Johnson said. "I just want people who want to compete. He wants to help; I'll take 30 of those kids. He doesn't have anything to prove, but he works hard every practice. I'll take 100 of those kids. That's what's starting to be the norm.”
Away from Section V athletics, Gissendanner is a partner in Unified Basketball (a team for students with and without disabilities) and a staff member in Buddy Olympics. But he’s still the most comfortable with his headgear on.
"I've controlled how competitive I am, but on the mat, I always go back to just relaxing and keeping my eyes open because anything can happen," said Gissendanner.
