Former coach Fritz likes new perspective as fan

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

John Fritz wore the nice clothes.

He did the walk, waved to the crowd and went through the motions as he was introduced.

But when the first whistle blew, Fritz found himself in an unfamiliar position -- in the stands.

In the biggest wrestling event ever to come to The Bryce Jordan Center -- the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships -- Fritz was not alongside the mat cheering for the wrestlers he had once coached.

And it was different, if not eerie for the 1976 126-pound national champion.

"It's funny how you can't see the forest through the trees," the former Penn State coach said. "That saying is never so meaningful to me right now. You have so much different perspective of things -- it was nice to be up there in the stands.

"It was the first national tournament I enjoyed."

But not all of it was enjoyable.

Fritz -- who resigned in June because of personal, physical and professional reasons -- watched Clint Musser's agony from defeat at the hands of Central Michigan's Casey Cunningham in the finals. And Fritz was devastated by Jeremy Hunter's loss against Bulldog Stephen Abas.

But it was not all bad.

"I was so happy for Glenn Pritzlaff," Fritz said about his former 174-pound wrestler who won his first national championship. "You feel so good for Glenn."

Still, Fritz is happy with his new vocation nonetheless. After all, his daughter, Meghan, is making college visits (Fritz said it looks as if it is coming down between Vermont and Penn State). If he were alongside the mat this season, it would not have been possible for him to be with her for those trips. After all, it was a simple game of tennis with Meghan when Fritz realized how much of his family's life he was missing.

But Fritz enjoyed seeing his former wrestlers -- coach Troy Sunderland and coaching assistants Dave Hart and Kerry McCoy -- and assistant coach Hachiro Oishi -- filling his shoes well.

Sunderland was particularly impressive.

Throughout the tournament, Sunderland proved to be a fireball coach. Charged and full of energy, he showed his youth and enthusiasm.

Sunderland shouted instructions to his grapplers throughout the tournament, especially in the Nittany Lions' final matches. He argued vigorously with referees, pleading the cases of his wrestlers.

But Fritz just sat.

"I was fortunate to coach him," Fritz said. "It kind of gives me a sense of pride. "It's kind of like a family when you see some tradition keep on going."

Sunderland is trying to do the same. After all, as Fritz says, coaching is a 24-hour, 365-day job.

"I made the comment on the radio and to another coach that I was going to back in my office and make some recruiting calls," Sunderland said at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday after the Lions had finished fourth in the team race in the NCAA Championships.

Still, Fritz is happy to be on the outside looking in. But he did enjoy participating in the Walk of Champions, an annual event honoring former national champions.

"The big thing about that is that every year at the end of March, my group keeps moving up," Fritz said. "Somebody said it was hard to pick me up."

But it is hard to keep Fritz down.