University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
Dennis Fenton
- Induction:
- 2024
Two-sport standout Dennis Fenton was a four-year scholarship student-athlete in football and started at defensive tackle for three years while spending his winters on the wrestling mat where he was a four-time Division I New England champion at heavyweight from 1974-77.
On the gridiron, Fenton was a two-time All-Yankee Conference and All-ECAC honoree (1975 & 1976). On the mat, he was a three-time Yankee Conference heavyweight champion (1975-1977) and a NCAA qualifier who helped UMass capture the 1974 New England wrestling title. During his wrestling career, he defeated future Olympic gold medalist, Jeff Blatnick, from Springfield College. Fenton capped his time at UMass by being named the Samuel B. Crossman Award from UMass for athlete of the year in 1976-77.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1977, he signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 1977 and the Cleveland Browns in 1978. A National Wrestling Hall of Fame Member, Fenton coached wrestling at UMass for two years under head coach Dave Amato and then began 34-year teaching and coaching career at Putnam High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. In total, he has been a wrestling coach at several high schools for 38 years including Cathedral, Classical, Central, Putnam, Belchertown and presently Chicopee Comp High School.
On the gridiron, Fenton was a two-time All-Yankee Conference and All-ECAC honoree (1975 & 1976). On the mat, he was a three-time Yankee Conference heavyweight champion (1975-1977) and a NCAA qualifier who helped UMass capture the 1974 New England wrestling title. During his wrestling career, he defeated future Olympic gold medalist, Jeff Blatnick, from Springfield College. Fenton capped his time at UMass by being named the Samuel B. Crossman Award from UMass for athlete of the year in 1976-77.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1977, he signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 1977 and the Cleveland Browns in 1978. A National Wrestling Hall of Fame Member, Fenton coached wrestling at UMass for two years under head coach Dave Amato and then began 34-year teaching and coaching career at Putnam High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. In total, he has been a wrestling coach at several high schools for 38 years including Cathedral, Classical, Central, Putnam, Belchertown and presently Chicopee Comp High School.
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