ALBANY, N.Y. — He has seen the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows.

The 165-pound Doc Vecchio became an All-American this past weekend at NCAA Championships in Albany, N.Y.

After failing to qualify for the national tournament in his first two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Vecchio made his first trip one to remember. Vecchio had never won a state championship in high school, with his highest finish being fifth, which made being an All-American even sweeter.

"I got beat up for two years, and there's no getting around that," Vecchio said. "This year's payback, and it's great."

Vecchio lost in the quarterfinals to Oklahoma State's Tyrone Lewis by a score of 8-5. He faced Missouri's Ty Woodley in the match to become All-American. After a hard-fought match that went into overtime, Vecchio notched a takedown to win.

"It was do or die for me," the Shillington native said. "Otherwise I was going home for a whole year. I just wanted it so bad. I would like to thank God, I knew he was in my corner so I went after it."

When the official signaled the takedown, Vecchio was so filled with emotion that he ran and jumped into Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland's arms. Both Sunderland and assistant coach Ross Thatcher were also celebrating the victory. Incidentally, Thatcher was the last All-American for Penn State along with national champion Jeremy Hunter in 2000.

Sunderland was very pleased to see a hard worker like Vecchio garner such acclaim.

"I am real happy for Doc and his accomplishment," Sunderland said. "He works for everything he's got, and it doesn't come easy for him. It's a testament to his work ethic and hard work."

Vecchio fell behind early, as Woodley opened the match with a flurry of shots and scored a quick takedown. The junior tri-captain countered with a pair of takedowns of his own and grabbed a 5-4 lead as period one came to a close. The only scoring in the second period was a Woodley escape. Woodley regained the lead when he scored a takedown, 7-6, which would be short lived as Vecchio quickly turned the tides when he got behind Woodley for a reversal. Woodley escaped to tie the match, before winning in the extra session.

There was not much time for celebration as Vecchio was back on the mat within an hour of earning All-American status. He got out to an early lead with a takedown of Oregon's Eugene Harris. Harris took control of the match with a pair of takedowns and three near fall points, all in the first period giving him a 7-4 lead.

There was not quit in Vecchio but he was unable to overcome the deficit and fell 8-5. With the loss Vecchio wrestled in Saturday's seventh-place match against Pennsylvania's Josh Henson.

Vecchio, who said he was unable to get much sleep Friday night after his victory, awoke at 5:30 a.m. Saturday to take Henson.

Henson had a flurry in the opening period, where he registered a takedown and turned Vecchio over to his back. Henson was ahead 5-0 before Vecchio got on the board. He controlled most of the remainder of the match, with Henson scoring just one more takedown to start the third period.

"Too many points too early," Vecchio said. "It makes it real hard to comeback."

Vecchio understands that there are aspects of his wrestling that still need improvement, and to return to the podium next year he will need to improve on top.

Sunderland feels that his improvement will continue like it as has in his first three seasons at Penn State.

"The difference in three years from being fifth in the states to eighth in the country is a tremendous accomplishment for him," Sunderland said.