Despite the challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Roadrunner standout wrestler Dylan Fischer has found some good news moving forward.
The sophomore wrestler, who earned All-American honors this past winter at 165 pounds, recently committed to NCAA Division II Limestone College in South Carolina, where he hopes to continue his success not only on the mat but in the classroom.
For Fischer, earning All-American honors meant plenty of interest from local and regional NCAA schools. But in an ironic twist, the four-year colleges were forced to shut down local campus visits for health concerns -- and that meant the former West Deptford High standout had to postpone site visits as well.
"I was just hoping for some good news during these weird times, and I'm glad to have it," said Fischer. "Of course the schools had to do what they had to do, but it's was frustrating," said Fischer, who had qualified for the NJCAA National Championship Tournament two straight seasons under Coach Dan Antonelli. "I had a few site visits set up and I was looking forward to moving on -- hoping to wrestle at least for another year."
And at Limestone, he will have that golden opportunity along with the chance to team up with a loaded roster filled with New Jersey wrestlers that currently totals 8 athletes. Under head coach Kelly Revels, the D-II Saints have emerged as a regional power in the Conference Carolinas League.
Fischer, a two-year performer, rolled to a fifth place finish in the recent NJCAA Wrestling Championship Tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa with a 4-2 tourney record. Ironically, he earned All-American honors thanks to a 12-6 decision over Nassau's Paul Illicate in the fifth place bout, a win that avenged a regular season loss to Illicate.
"It feels good to finish my career as an All-American -- it's something I'm sure I'll be proud of the rest of my life," said Fischer, who will study athletic training at Limestone. "I was away from wrestling for a little while after high school, and never imagined I would be this successful in college when I first came back to wrestle."