Bio

Duane Fischer is one of the most decorated wrestlers in UW-Oshkosh history, winning WIAC titles in each of his last three seasons and capping his career with an All-America performance in 1986.

Fischer, a Merrill High School graduate, claimed conference titles in the 190-pound weight division in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He is one of just two wrestlers in UW-Oshkosh archives to win at least three WIAC championships. 

Fischer also helped lead UW-Oshkosh to a second-place showing at the 1983 WIAC Championship and a third-place league finish in 1986.

Fischer, who compiled a 118-19 record during his four years concluded his career by finishing third at the 1986 NCAA Division III Championship. He remains as UW-Oshkosh's lone All-American and WIAC champion at 190 pounds.

After earning a first-round bye at the 1986 Division III Championship, Fischer secured an 8-2 win in the second round before notching a pin during the third round. Following a 5-4 loss in the semifinals that snapped his 20-match winning streak, Fischer rebounded for a 10-1 victory to reach the third-place match, where he won by an 8-6 score over UW-Whitewater’s Steve Kopecky to finish the year with a 29-3 record. Fischer also downed Kopecky in the conference championship bout to become the last WIAC wrestler to win three consecutive titles at 190 pounds.

During his junior season in 1985, Fischer compiled a 30-2 record before an injury forced him to withdraw from the NCAA Division III West Regional. Fischer secured his second straight WIAC title with a victory over UW-Superior’s Tim Olson.

In 1984, Fischer began his run of three straight conference crowns when he defeated UW-Stout’s Dave Witt in the championship match.

During his athletic career at Merrill High School, Fischer won the 1982 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling Class A title with a 30-2-2 record. He also competed on the school’s baseball and football teams.

Since graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 1987, Fischer has dedicated his life as a minister for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Fischer, who became an Elder in the Oshkosh Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1998, has assisted with the wrestling teams at Oshkosh North High School and Webster Stanley Middle School in Oshkosh.

Fischer resides in Central Wisconsin with his wife, Lisa.