Takedown Report

As NCAA wrestling tournament heads to Pittsburgh, ties to 1957 event remain

The Division I competition hasn’t been held here in more than 60 years
Ann Peery Ritter doesn’t remember her first NCAA Division I wrestling tournament. “I was eight weeks old when I attended my first NCAA tournament, but I don’t remember it,” said Peery Ritter, who is now 73 years old. “My dad was coaching at the time, and my mom tried to attend all of his matches and tournaments.”
She does, however, vividly remember the 1957 tournament, which was held at Pitt’s Fitzgerald Field House. That event was the last time the Division I tournament was held in Pittsburgh. More than 60 years later, PPG Paints Arena will play host to this year’s tournament starting Thursday.  Peery Ritter grew up in a well-known wrestling family. Her father, Rex, and brothers Hugh and Ed, are all three-time NCAA Division I champions and distinguished members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. No other family has combined to win nine NCAA titles in nine attempts. Rex Peery was the most successful coach in Pitt history. Rest of the story at https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2019/03/17/ncaa-wrestling-tournament-2019-pittsburgh/stories/201903180004?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 18, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized