John Fritz

John Fritz wrestled in high school for the Hurricanes of Bethlehem Liberty in the powerful Lehigh Valley. He then took his talents to Penn State and attained an outstanding collegiate career, featuring 2 third place finishes in the NCAA Championship at 126 lbs. in 1973 & 1974, followed by winning the Gold Medal in his senior year of 1975. He went on to be an Assistant Coach for Rich Lorenzo for a decade, then became the Head Coach of the Nittany Lions in 1993. In six seasons, he posted five top five NCAA finishes including a second in 1993, Penn State's highest finish in 39 years. At Penn State, he produced 4 national champions, 9 NCAA finalists, 21 All-Americans and 12 Big Ten champions. Fritz was named the 1993 NWCA National Coach of the Year, after leading Penn State to a school record 22-0-1 dual meet record, a No.1 national ranking and the national dual team title. He also earned 1998 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. John continues to work with the Commonwealth Campus athletic programs at Penn State, and still resides in Boalsburg.

Awards:

Year
2012
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
Pennsylvania

All American Awards:

Season
1975
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
1
Season
1974
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
3
Season
1973
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
3

College Season Records:

Season
1975
School
Penn State
Class
Senior
Bouts
24
Wins
20
Losses
2
Ties
2
Falls
3
Win PCT.
83.33
Place
1st
Season
1974
School
Penn State
Class
Junior
Bouts
25
Wins
22
Losses
2
Ties
1
Falls
1
Win PCT.
88
Place
3rd
Season
1973
School
Penn State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
20
Wins
19
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
0
Win PCT.
95
Place
3rd
Season
1972
School
Penn State
Class
Freshman
Bouts
16
Wins
10
Losses
5
Ties
1
Falls
0
Win PCT.
62.5
Place
DNP
Season
Career
Bouts
85
Wins
71
Losses
10
Ties
4
Falls
4
Win PCT.
83.53

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1998
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
18
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
85.71
Season
1997
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
16
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
1996
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
11
Losses
8
Ties
1
Win PCT.
55
Season
1995
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
5
Losses
12
Ties
0
Win PCT.
29.41
Season
1994
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
15
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
1993
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
22
Losses
0
Ties
1
Win PCT.
95.65
Season
1980
School
Franklin & Marshall
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
15
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
83.33
Season
1979
School
Franklin & Marshall
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
7
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
41.18
Season
Career
Duals
157
Wins
109
Losses
46
Ties
2
Win PCT.
69.43

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