'Wolfpack' scoring a knockout
Craig Wolfley has made a name for himself with his post-Steelers boxing career, winning the NFL's ToughBowl competition and earning a bout with former Tough Man champion Eric “Butterbean” Esch this past February.
But Wolfley takes more pride in the accomplishments of his Wolfpack Boxing Club.
The Bridgeville-based club had three fighters win titles Tuesday, and was recognized with honors individually and as a team at the Western Pa. Police Athletic League's Golden Gloves boxing tournament at the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Michael Strauss was named Most Outstanding Boxer in the open division after scoring a second-round technical knockout, his older brother Rob won the 178-pound open title by decision and Ian Neumaier won the 125-pound novice title to help the Wolfpack win the Golden Gloves' Most Outstanding Club honors.
“Craig and (his wife) Faith are the greatest,” said Rob Strauss, 22, of Mt. Lebanon, a seven-year boxing veteran, who is one of the Wolfpack gym's head instructors and personal trainers. “Those two and my mom (Kathy) have been a huge help and influence in my life. It's great. I get to train and work my brother's corner, too.”
The younger Strauss is also an up-and-coming boxer.
Michael, 18, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, won the Golden Gloves 156-pound novice division last year, then captured the Ringside national tournament at 147 pounds in Olathe, Kan. This time, he knocked out PA Boxing's Josh Billingsly in the third round.
“When you train that hard, you know it's going to pay off,” Michael Strauss said. “I went out and said, 'I'm not going to let this kid hit me.' I was setting him up with body shots until he brought his elbows out to protect himself. Then I hit him with uppercuts.”
Neumaier, 17, of Mt. Lebanon, won a decision over Brookline's Darren Joyce.
“I've had experience with hard-hitting guys before, “said Neumaier, a junior at Seton-La Salle High School. “In the first round, he gassed out. They gave him a standing eight-count in the second.”
This was the fourth time in the Golden Gloves finals for Rob Strauss, who won the 156-pound novice division in 1997, then lost in the 156- and 165-pound novice the next two years. Strauss had reconstructive knee surgery in 2000 and did not compete. Last year, he beat the same opponent, Ryan Montag of Altoona, to reach the U.S. Amateur Boxing Association regionals in Baltimore and fight for a national ranking.
“He's what this whole Wolfpack team is about,” Wolfley said. “He embodies the spirit.”
Other South & West fighters to win Golden Gloves titles were Matt Jellison of South Park, who defeated Jose Otero of Lower (Erie) Eastside by decision at 139 pounds in the open division; Justin Cottle of Rimsek's, who defeated Chris Koval of Ohio by decision at 201 in the novice; Chris Williams of the Carrick Community Boxing Academy, who defeated Tyrone Kirk by decision at 132 novice; and Carrick's Matt Wasko, who defeated South Park's Dustin Mihalek by decision in the Junior (15-16) 147-pound class.
In a sub-novice bout, Travis Petrik of South Park scored a TKO at 1:58 of the second round over Carmen Church of Steel Valley at 119. In Tuesday's sub-novice final, Michael Longo of Brookline defeated teammate Igor Boyko at 201 pounds.
