PHILIP AHWESH

Philip Ahwesh
Canonsburg High School
Duquesne University
Posthumous – Football

An outstanding athlete at Canonsburg High School, Phil Ahwesh won the 1936 and 1937 Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Championships before the PIAA had a championship. In 1938, he added a PIAA title in the 185 lb. weight class.

Phil was a three-time Honorable Mention All-American at Duquesne in football, playing for coaching legend “Buff” Donelli.

Duquesne football went 29-4-2 during Ahwesh’s four years at the university. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1942, but enlisted in the United States Marine Corps instead.

Ahwesh coached football and wrestling at Canonsburg High School in 1946 and 1947, producing ten WPIAL wrestling champions during that time. His 1947 team was undefeated and was inducted into the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. His coaching record at Canonsburg was 29-1-1.

Phil left Canonsburg to coach football at his alma mater, Duquesne, in 1949 and 1950.

He was inducted into the Duquesne University Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.

Phil Ahwesh served as president of the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and 1997, vice-president from 1991 to 1993, and executive committee
Co-chairman in 1995.

Ahwesh was appointed chairman of the Pennsylvania State Racing Commission by then Governor Milton Sharp, and he also helped to form the Canon-McMillan School District, serving as board president for four years and a member for twelve years.