JOHN FRITZ, Penn State
’75 earned respect quickly with NCAA seeds of
2, 2, 3 and topped that after placing third twice at 126 --then
earning a spectacular 5-5,3-1 overtime finals win in ’75 vs.
Michigan State’s best-ever, Pat Milkovich (NCAA 1,1,2,2). A
two- time EIWA champion, Fritz’s biggest other wins were
three in ’73-74 over one of Lehigh’s best-ever, Mike
Frick (4,1,1). The EIWA finals win earned John the OW Award. Fritz
retired 71-10-4 with an outstanding 17-3 win/loss mark at
Nationals
As PSU’s head coach
(1993-98), John was 1993 NWCA Coach-of-the-Year, beating Iowa at
National Duals and finishing 2nd at NCAAs. He was 1998
Big Ten Coach-of-Year and 1984 Assistant Coach of the Year. In just
six years, he coached four NCAA champions, nine finalists and 21
All-Americans. His 22-0-1 team in ’93 is Penn State’s
sole unbeaten team since 1974. Prior to State College, Fritz
coached at F&M, Indiana (PA) and Colorado. After coaching
retirement he became PSU Director of Recreation on the Lions’
Commonwealth campus while raising three children.
