Boys Team:
Norwin Boys Wrestling is heading into a strong season this year, with a record of 9-0 overall and 1-0 in their section. The team is off to a strong start, leading them to go up from their overall record from last year of 12-7 overall and 4-1 in their Section in 2023-24. Seniors Gage Mamie and Nick Puskar placed in the WPIAL last season, while sophomore Landon Sidun was runner-up in the WPIAL but went on to place number one in the PIAA State Championship.
The team is going for a season of cohesion, with the lower-weight classes dominating the games and the team coming out together in tournaments. The team grew closer as a group and a team, forming a strong bond this season, and motivating each other.
Against rival and perennial powerhouse Canon-McMillan on December 4, Norwin Boys Wrestling came out with a score of 39-20. Senior Gage Mamie started off the meet in the 152 lbs weight class setting them up for victory. The win against Canon-McMillan shows one example of the team’s determination and ability to work together and possibly make it to State as a team.
“This year’s team is awesome,” sophomore 121 lbs Landon Sidun said. “Everybody is friends and it’s really fun to be a part of the team. When someone is wrestling, the whole bench is cheering them on, bringing a whole different energy to the match and team as a whole.”
Last season, Sidun won a state title in the 114 weight class, earning a gold medal at the PIAA Championships. This season, he is looking forward to furthering his strength and hopes to go further as an individual and as a team.
“I still have a lot more to improve, and I want to win another state title,” Sidun said. “We are participating in some of the toughest tournaments and competitions in the country, and we are even heading to California this season. I am hoping we make the postseason as a team so we can go to Hershey together.”
This season, the team is looking to go forward together as they continue to compete in different tournaments such as the Beast of the East on December 21-22 in Delaware, the Powerade Tournament on December 27-28 at Canon-McMillan, and the Doc Buchanan Tournament in California on January 3-4.
Girls Team:
As for the Lady Knights wrestlers, they are off to a record of 4-3 so far. Last year, they finished with a record of 5-4 and had junior Jojo Dollman place 5th at the PIAA state championships. The team, which became official two years ago, is solidifying and gaining momentum into the season and future seasons. The girls are wrestling with experience now, as well as gaining more wrestlers who can begin and continue to learn from the team and the coaches.
“When I first started wrestling, I was really weak,” junior Lily Chaney said. “I want to get stronger and better and beat people I couldn’t beat last year. We had a couple of close losses last year, and we want to win them as a team now that we have been training and have a more cohesive team.”
The team has gained more members than ever before and is coming together to form a strong group, enjoying each other’s company and cheering each other on from the bench. Although the team competes individually exclusively because Norwin still does not have enough members to fill the weight classes, they gain experience and knowledge from one another.
The girls got closer this season as friends after junior Giana Ruble pinned someone at the Boiling Springs tournament, causing the team to cheer and scream from the bench. This pin strengthened the team’s chemistry and the overall friendship on and off the mat, leading to a bond that mends the team together.
The wrestlers are looking toward a busy winter break with the Beast of the East on December 19-20, the Powerade Tournament on December 26, and Mid-Winter Mayhem on January 11. The girls are hoping to improve from a few of their close losses from last season, and are looking forward together.
