Fagiano Named PE College Athlete of the Year

MORENO VALLEY >> It was no secret Joe Fagiano had an incredible career-capping season at California Baptist University. The magnitude of it continues to sink in, even three months after his collegiate campaign officially came to a close. Fagiano, a heavyweight, was reminded of his dominance when he was named The Press-Enterprise Area College Men's Athlete of the Year on Friday. He was also profiled on InterMat Sunday for his accomplishments. It all comes after he won the Lancers' first individual wrestling NCAA title at the Division II Championships in March. Far from Fagiano's first such award this season, he was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and West Region Wrestler of the Year. He went on to be voted the CBU Senior Male Athlete of the Year, as well. With a 29-6 record, Fagiano went out on top to secure the D-II heavyweight championship with a 6-3 comeback win over Minnesota State-Mankato's Malcolm Allen in March. He advanced to the championship round with pins in two of his three previous matches at the national tournament. CBU would go on to take a program-best sixth in the NCAA, backed by not only Fagiano's heroics but three other All-American performances from Brady Bersano (second, 157); Jacob Waste (third, 184) and Nolan Kistler (seventh, 165). Certainly not a one-week wonder, Fagiano defeated four Division I foes, while five of his six losses came against D-I opponents. He became the first Lancer to knock off a nationally-ranked Division I wrestler, and also placed at the Cliff Keen Invitational (seventh) and Midlands Championships (eighth) - two of the most prestigious tournaments in the country.