Courtney “Pete” Fritts Sr.
Woodward Academy
Impact Statement
Fritts was a successful wrestler, a veteran and teacher and coach. He has touched many over the course of his life.
Biography
Fritts has led a life of public service from serving our military to teaching and coaching our youth.
Fritts attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey and graduated in 1956. He was a New Jersey State Prep Champion in the 138 pound weight class his senior year. He entered Bucknell University and earned his Bachelor’s in Political Science in 1960. He was the starter from 1957 until he graduated. His senior year, he was the ACC Runner Up.
Fritts then joined the US Army, where he continued his wrestling and qualified for the All-Army team. In 1964, Fritts won the Inter-Service Freestyle Championships at 171.5 pounds.. He also won the Hawaii AAU Open Greco Roman Title. He was an intriguing part of finding the Rural Oahu Interscholastic High School Wrestling Conference and starting the Leilehua High School team. He continued to coach until his deployment to Vietnam. He then was sent to Iran, where he stared the wrestling program at Tehran-American International High School. The team traveled to nearby countries for tournaments. After 20 years, Fritts retired in 1980 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1973, Fritts and family landed back in Georgia. He started a youth program at Fort McPherson. In 1977, Fritts obtained his MED in health and physical education from the Georgia State University. He served as the volunteer wrestling coach at Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia until 1981 when he was hired as a teacher, and of course a coach.
In addition to wrestling, Fitts coached the Freshman Football team from 1980-86 and again from 1988 until 1991. He also coached the softball team for a handful of years. He coached the JV baseball team for ten years before becoming the varsity head coach in 1990 until his retirement. Fritts retired in May of 1997, handing over the wrestling program to his son. He finished with a career record of 110-19-2. His War Eagles finished six times in the top five.
Fritts was the NHSCA’s Georgia State representative for many years. He led Team Georgia at both the National Open and the National Duals until 2007. He also helped start the Metro Wrestling Officials Association. He served as the director from 1993 until 1997.
Fritts also volunteered for the Georgia High School Association, the GHSA, beginning in 1978. His main role was the Georgia State High School Dual Meet Wrestling Tournament Director. After 34 years of service, Fritts hung up his clip board and 62 years of life as a competitor and coach.
In 2001, Fritts was inducted into the Bucknell University Hall of Achievement . He was also inducted into the charter class of the Georgia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
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