Steve Fittery (Denver, Pa./American University) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Dec. 29-Jan. 4.

Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level.

Fittery, a transfer from Shippensburg, captured the 157-pound title at the 47th Annual Midlands Championships on Dec. 30 in Evanston, Ill. Fittery won all five of his bouts at the tournament by bonus points and was crowned Champion of Champions.

Fittery, the top seed, picked up three major decisions, one technical fall and one fall. The junior cruised through the first day of competition with two major decisions before tech-falling Clarion's Hadley Harrison in the second period 17-1 to advance to the semifinals. Fittery then returned to the mat on the second day with a 15-5 major decision over fifth-seeded Keegan Davis from Oregon State in the semifinals. In the finals, Fittery made quick work of second-seeded Jake Patacsil from the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club. Fittery earned his first Midlands Championship after pinning Patacsil 2:52 into the first period. 

Fittery was named the Champion of Champions, an honor voted on by all 10 Midlands champions. Fittery is the first wrestler in American history to be named Champion of Champions and the third to capture a Midlands title. 

Fittery was a two-time NCAA Division II runner-up for Shippensburg (Pa.) University before transferring to American.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org