Frank J. Pecaitis

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 12, 2024
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INDUCTEE

Although many outstanding athletes have graced the lower anthracite coal region, very few of them were as versatile and successful, despite battling adversity, as Frank Pecaitis. He excelled in two diametrically opposing sports in baseball and wrestling, and also competed in cross country. He captained all three sports and earned 11 varsity letter at MCA.

Frank began wrestling in junior high and posted an undefeated season in eighth grade, propelling him into the varsity lineup as a freshman. During the first tournament of his high school career, he was paired against defending state champion John Brennan. He would win the match but would sustain a severe injury to his right elbow, essentially ending his season. He underwent “Tommy John “ surgery but still managed to crack the starting lineup for Tornado baseball in the spring.

Despite many different orthopedic injuries during his career, he still managed to win the 1982 PIAA Class AAA 138 lb District IV Championship. He was undefeated in dual meet competition in his senior year and went on to win the inaugural MCA Holiday tournament that year. He was recognized by the media by being named to the “Top 100” wrestlers out of 5000 considered across the state of Pennsylvania. He was named to the Susquehanna Valley All Conference team and to the Reading Eagle All Anthracite team. One of Frank’s more notable victories was over North Schuylkill’s Joe Cesari, who was a World Schoolboy and National Freestyle Champion, as well as, a 3-time PIAA State Champion and 3-time NCAA Division 1 championship qualifier. Pecaitis finished his career with a fine 42-14-4 record.

As a red Tornado baseball player, Frank was a four year starter and captained the team for 3 years. As a senior, he would lead Big Red into the District IV AAA playoffs with a .360 average. He also played in the Intercity Softball League for St Francis, a team that dominated in the 80’s.

Following graduation, Frank would receive a B.S. in health planning and administration from Penn State University, and completed a residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He has had a distinguished career as a corporate executive with companies such as QuadrMed, GE, and Agfa Healthcare.

Pecaitis currently resides in Mission Viejo, CA with his wife Carol and three children, Daley Marie, Stephanie Lynn, and Nathan Francis. He now joins his brother Joseph and Papa Frank as members of the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.