PSU Wrestling Spotlight on former Penn State Wrestler: John Hughes

John Hughes was a National Champion and three-time All-American for Penn State. He finished first in the country at 142 pounds in 1995, was a National Runner-Up in 1996 and finished 7th in the country in 1994. He was a Big Ten Champion, a University National Freestyle Champion and won a Gold Medal at the 1994 Pan-American games. Since graduating from Penn State he has built a reputation as a highly respected coach and recruiter, first at Penn State and now at Lehigh.

When I think about John Hughes the word that comes to mind is determination. He was so determined and focused and he had an amazing will to win. He always put himself in a position to win. John is a great guy all the way around; he is a winner all the way. -John Fritz, former Penn State head coach

John, how did you get started in wrestling?

My older brother Tom and my father got Russ and me involved at an early age. We were probably in our diapers when they started showing us moves and putting us in holds. Obviously, I don't remember any of this, but this is what has been told to us.

Tell us about your high school wrestling career.

I was very fortunate to have great coaches in my father, Nelson Fritz among many others. I was also very blessed to have a built in training partner in Russ. My dad would take us to clinics and he gave us short term and long term goals. He also gave us role models in Ricky and Rocky Bonomo. The people my dad surrounded us with are the reason Russ and I were as successful as we were in high school.

Talk about the process that brought you to Penn State.

John Fritz did a clinic in South Williamsport High School one summer and my dad dropped us off there for the day. He was very instrumental in the recruiting process for PSU. Rich Lorenzo was equally responsible. The home visit and official recruiting visit solidified in our minds that Penn State was a great fit for us. Hachiro Oishi pushed us to new levels and helped define who I was on and off the mat. I can't say enough about how these individuals positively influenced and changed my life for the better. I can only hope I have half the impact on my student-athletes as these coaches did on me.

Who is the toughest guy you ever wrestled in college?

There were a ton of tough guys. Terry Steiner gave me the worst beating I ever had as a freshman. That loss was a defining moment in my career and convinced me to never get beat that bad ever again. Alan Fried gave me a beat down in Rec Hall as did Steve Marianetti at the Midlands. A slew of World and Olympic Team members, such as Townsend Saunders, Pat Santoro, Thom Ortiz, Brian Dolph and John Guira all gave me a lesson or two at the US Open.

What are your best memories from the years you spent as a Penn State Wrestler?

Winning the NCAA's and the Pan American Championships were a big deal; however meeting my wife and earning my degree were also monumental. I am very appreciative of my wife Melissa and Sandy Meyers (academic counselor for athletics) for helping me to attain that diploma.

Update us on your life.

I currently reside in Bethlehem, PA where I am an assistant wrestling coach for the Lehigh Mountainhawks under Pat Santoro's guidance. I’m married to Melissa and we have two wonderful children. Our son, Riley is now 5 1/2 and in kindergarten and our daughter, Morgan is 2 1/2.

How has the Penn State wrestling experience impacted your life/career?

I have a tremendous amount of respect for my coaches and the University for helping me become the person I am today.

What advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?

Live your life in a manner that makes everyone associated with you proud to be in it. Think about the consequences that may ensue after your action. Ask yourself, would my grandparents, parents, coaches and teammates approve of what I am about to do? As I have matured, I am all about accountability. There is a responsibility to the youth to insure a future within our sport. Your actions today will dictate if we have collegiate wresting in the future. Some kids that come to mind on the current PSU roster that have an obligation to our sport are the Alton twins and David Taylor.

What does Penn State Wrestling mean to you?

Currently, they are the opposition. Make no mistake about it; there is a renewed rivalry between Lehigh and Penn State. We both have the same goal...to bring home a National Title to Pennsylvania. I am very competitive and hate to lose. I think that was evident when I was an athlete and is now that I am a coach. As a former Penn Stater, it's a difficult position to be in, because I want the program to do well. However, in the same breath I want to have the bragging rights for Lehigh each year.

What makes wrestling such a great sport?

You learn a lot about yourself while facing adversity. The things you encounter in the sport of wrestling are very similar to the life lessons learned in the real world. This sport prepares you for whatever may come your way.