This year, Del Val had a successful wrestling season. Not only did they win the Group 1 State Championship Title, but their head coach, Andy Fitz, was also named 2024-25 state Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools and the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association.
Over his 18 years of coaching, Fitz has devoted a large piece of his life to wrestling. In his family, wrestling plays a big role.
Growing up, he viewed his father as inspiration, as he was also a wrestling coach, and even in the Coach’s Hall of Fame at Lehigh.
“He coached here for 19 years, next year will be my 19th year as well, coaching is in the family,” Fitz said.
Fitz’s team of assistant coaches and wrestlers are of a big part of his success.
He is proud to say that Del Val’s wrestling program is a twelve month loyal program, where everyone involved is a part of a tight-knit community. Most of his wrestlers have been wrestling with each other for their entire lives. They’ve faced both wins and losses as a team and celebrate their success together.
Coach Fitz is the first to admit that coaching isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
“You will have tough days as a coach if you do it right,” Fitz said. “But if you get to know all these wonderful families it will far outweigh any down days you might have.”
Fitz acknowledged that there’s more to wrestling than simple two hour practices and the occasional match. How wrestlers eat, sleep and live their lives, both on and off the mat, are all important if they want to get better and achieve their personal goals through out the season.
“During the course of a year and a season, there’s really a lot that goes into it, more than what meets the eye,” Fitz said.
Fitz knows goals are a crucial part of improving and being the best you can be. He ensures all his wrestlers have goals set for themselves as they begin training for the next season.
“I mostly want the team to achieve their individual potential, which is what they are already doing during the off season” Fitz said.
As a team, their overall goal is to win another state title, but he knows that will only happen if they are consistently working toward smaller ambitions on the way.
Fitz is already preparing for next year. With all the successes experienced this year, he knows his wrestlers will come together just like always and once again have a fantastic season.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating all the team and individual successes and all the surpassed accomplishments to come,” Fitz said.
