Shippensburg’s Steve Fittery Named PSAC Wrestler of the Week

Mar. 4, 2008

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Three days after defending his regional championship at the 2008 NCAA Division II East Regional Championships, sophomore Steve Fittery (Denver/Cocalico) was named the PSAC Wrestler of the week on Tuesday afternoon.

The sophomore has won 13 consecutive matches, including three wins at the East Regionals, and will enter the NCAA National Championships as a favorite for the title at 141 pounds.

Fittery earned a 7-1 victory over Newberry's Tony Washington last Saturday to become the first Red Raider to win back-to-back East Region championships since Kevin Boccella in 2000 as he captured the 141-pound title.

Since Shippensburg made the transition from Division I to Division II, there has never been a three-peat regional champion in school history. SU Hall of Famer Glen Burket won three-straight East Region championships from 1976-78 at 126 pounds on the Division I level.

In December, Fittery became the first Red Raider to win a PSAC championship since 1978, defeating Clarion's Sal Lascari 5-4 in the finals at 141 pounds.

With his conference championship, Fittery has achieved two legs of wrestling's triple crown, and will enter nationals this season as the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds in the East Region.

The only championship still eluding him is the national title at which he finished second a year ago as a freshman to Central Oklahoma junior Kyle Evans. Currently in his senior season, Evans is the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds with a 28-2 record and has won 89 of his last 93 matches.

This year’s championships are being hosted by Upper Iowa University and being held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 14 and 15. The championships Web site can be found at the following address: http://upperiowaathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/08-ncaa-wrestling.html.

- Red Raider Wrestling -