Third generation wrestlers, Carter Chunko and Brady Rohn, had a great year in the Saucon Valley youth program
Saucon Valley continues to dominate the wrestling headlines this season. As a team the Panthers were 2016 PIAA finalists. Individually, multiple district and regional champions have been crowned with eight grapplers advancing to the state tournament that begins on Thursday.
Saucon Valley is a special place that is deep with wrestling tradition and history. Tradition within a program, however, is not necessarily unique. Schools like Easton, Nazareth and Northampton have built their tradition through years of hard work and the accumulation of district and regional titles, as well as state medalists and state champions. What is unique and special about Saucon Valley is the past, present and future of its program come together with respect to the families who’ve become its pillars in many respects: the Chunko and Rohn families.
Three generations of Rohns and Chunkos are currently involved with the Saucon Valley wrestling program, from novice wrestling on up through the varsity level.
The Rohn and Chunko names have been connected with Saucon wrestling since the early 1960s. Don Rohn started wrestling when he was in fourth grade for Dick Raab, who was then the youth coach for Saucon Valley. Don’s best friend and classmate, Rocky Chunko, joined his buddy and so the story began.
In 1965, as a youth wrestler, Don Rohn represented the Saucon Valley wrestling team at the 60-pound weight class while his best friend and classmate Rocky Chunko followed him in the lineup at 65. Rocky’s younger brother, Rusty Chunko, was Don’s backup at 60. As they grew up, the boys would trek across town for workouts at Hellertown High School assistant wrestling coach Doug Koch’s house to learn and polish their technique. They would often work out and wrestle in Koch’s front yard.
Don Rohn and Rocky Chunko are still the best of friends.
Fast forward to 1972. At the high school level, Rusty as a freshman wrestled in the 95-pound weight class, while seniors Rocky wrestled 120 and Don at 145. That 1972 team coached by long-time Saucon Valley pillar Charlie Bartolet went undefeated.
Saucon had dominating success in the early 1970s, highlighted by Don becoming a two-time state champion, Rocky a state runner-up and Rusty a District XI champion. Don and Rocky furthered their wrestling careers at Clarion University. Don went on to earn 3-time All-American honors in addition to becoming a National champion in 1973. Don eventually became enshrined in the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame.
After a brief stint at Hazleton Area High School Don became a teacher and wrestling coach at Northampton Area High School, where he eventually retired with a 392-75 record. Don was able to coach his son, Tommy, to three District XI titles and a second place finish at the 2000 PIAA State Championship. Tommy went on to wrestle at Lehigh University for Greg Strobel and Pat Santoro. However, due to a severe neck injury in his very first college match against Blaise Mucci of Pitt, Tommy’s wrestling career abruptly ended. Don and Tommy are now coaching together on Chad Shirk’s staff at Saucon Valley High School. It is no coincidence that the Saucon Valley Panther wrestling program is now one of the best in the state.
Don and Tommy Rohn along with Ben Chunko (near left) can usually be found at their mat-side office.
While Tommy was walking the halls and ruling the mat at Northampton, Ben Chunko at about the same time was wrestling for Saucon Valley. The son of Don’s long-time childhood friend Rusty Chunko, Ben is a 1997 graduate of Saucon Valley High School. He was a multiple District, Regional and State qualifier and finished with 95-31 record for the Panthers. Ben continued his academic and wrestling careers at Bucknell and Drexel. Bucknell stopped their wrestling program in 2001, and Ben transferred and finished his wrestling career at Drexel. Ben, now 36 years old, also had a stellar wrestling career that was highlighted with him advancing to the NCAA Division 1 Round of 12 in 2002. Ben is currently one of the coaches for the Saucon Valley youth wrestling program that just went undefeated this past season.
The second generation: Ben Chunko (left) and Tommy Rohn are fixtures within the Saucon Valley wrestling program
The deeply rooted friendship between the Chunkos and Rohns formally transitioned to family with the marriage of Ben and Don Rohn’s daughter, Kelly, in May 2004. Their marriage marked not just the union of two great individuals, but also of two great families. And, it just so happens that both families are deeply accomplished in the realm of wrestling.
Ben and Kelly now have three healthy and happy boys. Eight-year-old Carter and Gavin, age 6, are both having fun and participating in the Saucon Valley Youth Wrestling program. Luke, the youngest Chunko at age 5, is a little too young to wrestle yet, but his future just may be genetically predetermined!
The third generation of Chunko wrestlers: Luke (5), Gavin (6) and big-bro Carter (8)
Naturally, Carter and Gavin Chunko have many teammates. Among them are Tommy’s sons Jared, Brady and Taylor Rohn. Jared is 9, Brady is 6 and Taylor is 5 years old.
The third generation of Rohn wrestlers: Taylor (5), Brady (6) and big-bro Jared (9)
The names Rohn and Chunko run deep in the local world of wrestling. In 1965, it was Don Rohn and Rocky Chunko wrestling back-to-back in the Saucon Valley line-up at 60 and 65 pounds, respectively. Today, half a century later, it is Brady Rohn and Carter Chunko wrestling for Saucon Valley back-to-back at 46 and 50 pounds. Saucon Valley wrestling history is repeating itself.
Don and Tommy are currently on the Saucon Valley High School coaching staff and have made monumental contributions, along with head coach Chad Shirk, to the creation of the current Panther dynasty. The Panther high school coaches are also no strangers at the youth practices and matches. It is not uncommon at all to see Tommy or Don instructing in the youth wrestling room along with Ben Chunko.
Don and Tommy Rohn now serve as key assistants on Chad Shirk’s Saucon Valley wrestling staff,
In addition, Ben Chunko is heavily invested in the Panther program. He has worked with Panther wrestlers past, present and future. Ben has mentored and instructed the likes of 2010 PIAA State Champion Brandon Palik and last year’s PIAA state place winner, Jason Lynch. Ben will likely spend the next decade doing more of the same.
With the Rohns and Chunkos participating in the Saucon wrestling community on multiple levels, it is a good bet Saucon Valley wrestling will remain dominant in the years to come. The successes that forever shine in Saucon’s wrestling past are now leading the way for our wrestling future. If you are not already familiar with the Chunko and Rohn wrestling names, here we go again. History tends to repeat itself, and the third generation is well on its way!
Tommy and Taylor Rohn celebrating Taylor’s two pins
Carter Chunko helps coach from his Dad Ben’s lap during a Saucon Valley youth league match.
Three generations of Rohns and Chunkos spend an afternoon of Saucon Valley wrestling together: Don, Rusty and Tommy, along with Rusty’s wife Sandy and daughter-in-law Kelly (Uncle Tommy coloring with his nephew Luke).
