Dale Franquet’s life in wrestling reflects both competitive excellence and uncommon courage. A native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Franquet was a standout wrestler in high school and college, earning recognition as a two-time Northeast Regional champion, two-time PIAA State runner-up, and compiling an impressive 109-20 career record. He continued his career at Mansfield University, where he was a four-year starter and team leader. His accomplishments on the mat laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong devotion to the sport, not only as a competitor but as a coach and mentor to countless young athletes.

Franquet entered the coaching ranks in 1992 as a volunteer assistant at Middleburg High School, beginning a career that has now spanned more than 30 years. He later joined the staff at Midd-West High School, where he served as a volunteer assistant, varsity assistant, and eventually varsity head coach beginning in 2016. Over three decades, he has played a vital role in shaping wrestling in his community, guiding athletes with the same determination and work ethic that characterized his own competitive career. In addition to his high school coaching, Franquet has supported youth development through the Twisted Steel Wrestling and Weight Training Club, which he founded on his own property as a training center for wrestlers from the region.

In December 2020, Franquet’s life changed dramatically. While serving as a corrections officer at the Allenwood Federal Penitentiary, he was attacked by an inmate during transport. Stabbed near the jugular and in his right eye, Franquet’s quick instincts and physical resilience—attributes honed through years of wrestling—saved his life. Although the damage to his eye was irreparable, resulting in its removal, Franquet demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Within months, he returned to coaching, using his experience as a powerful testimony to courage, perseverance, and the ability to overcome life’s greatest challenges. His story has become a source of inspiration not only to his athletes but to the wider wrestling community.

Franquet’s recovery and return to coaching exemplify the values at the heart of the Medal of Courage. Rather than retreating in the face of adversity, he embraced the opportunity to mentor others by sharing his journey. He has spoken openly with athletes about resilience, using his personal experience to teach lessons that extend far beyond wrestling. His ability to transform hardship into motivation has given countless young people a living example of strength, hope, and perseverance. In recognition of his impact, Franquet was inducted into the District IV Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2020.

Today, Franquet continues to serve as head coach at Midd-West High School and remains active in his community, coaching girls’ softball and supporting youth athletics. Franquet’s induction into the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Medal of Courage recipient is a fitting tribute to a man whose life demonstrates the strength of character that wrestling seeks to instill.

Franquet still resides in Middleburg with his wife, Angela, his daughter, Mekenna, and son, Maesyn.