Fox Chapel wrestler fights through adversity to earn 100th win

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 11:01 AM

Reaching 100 wins meant that Fox Chapel senior wrestler Joey Geller had to find a way to get through the North section qualifier to reach the WPIAL Class 3A championships. But nothing would be easy for Geller during the 215-pound bracket at Butler High School.

He battled strep throat all week and got taken down by New Castle’s Jonathan Wymer, who was seeded 13th, 11 seconds into the match.

Geller got control quickly and collected a pin nearly a minute late to keep his dream intact.

“I got taken down and flopped straight to my back,” Geller said. “It was tough to go through.”

Geller placed third at sections and earned his chance to top the century mark at WPIALs. He did so in the consolation bracket when he beat Indiana’s Jackson Higgins by tech fall.

Geller placed sixth at WPIAL to be the Foxes’ lone qualifier for the regional tournament. Results from the event, which was held at Canon-McMillan, were too late for this edition.

Fox Chapel coach Michael Frank said Geller faced a lot of adversity before sections.

“He had a rough week,” Frank said. “He really didn’t practice much at all. He was dealing with a whole bunch of illnesses.”

Geller was determined to find a way on the mat. He said he had a goal when he came up from the middle school program was to hit 100 wins and qualify for states as a senior.

Geller was 31 wins away from the century mark entering the season.

“This year, after counties, I realized I’m going to do it,” Geller said.

Geller is 32-12 as a senior. It is a career high for wins in a season and total matches wrestled. Frank said it is nice that wrestlers can get a lot of matches in.

“That’s a ridiculous number of matches,” Frank said. “It’s good for kids as long as they stay healthy. Joey has had his sights set on it all year. It was awesome to see him get it.”

Geller said he has felt a lot more comfortable his senior year. He said if he had to wrestle the same version of himself as a junior, the match wouldn’t be close.

“My style has very much improved with my stance and on my feet in neutral,” Geller said. “I’ve opened up on offense a lot, and that’s helped me become a better wrestler.”

Geller hopes to give Fox Chapel a state qualifier for the second consecutive season. Michael Worsen qualified at 121 pounds last season. He was the Foxes’ first state qualifier since Mike Mahon in 2017.

“There’s nothing in my bracket that I haven’t seen before,” Geller said.

Bachman takes 5th

Fox Chapel junior Lauren Bachman placed fifth at 142 pounds at the WPIAL girls tournament to qualify for regionals. Bachman, who also placed fifth at 136 last season, is 22-12 this season.

Tags: Fox Chapel