Before heading to Penn State, 2 WPIAL Class 3A wrestling stars have more to accomplish

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 5:06 PM

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Penn State picked up commitments from two of the top wrestlers in the WPIAL and PIAA: Norwin junior Landon Sidun and Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown.

Sidun announced his choice to be part of the Nittany Lions’ 2027 class Oct. 6, and Brown switched his choice from Pitt to the blue and white earlier this month.

Both wrestlers are PIAA champions.

Sidun won his title in 2024. A hand injury prevented him from competing in the 2025 tournament.

The rising superstar returned in October in FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One tournament and put on a show in winning the 120-pound weight class.

“I am looking forward to the season,” Sidun said. “I was happy with my season in 2024-25. We wrestled in a lot of great tournaments.”

Sidun (70-2) was 30-0 before injuring his hand during the WPIAL Class 3A team tournament third-place match against Thomas Jefferson.

He won titles at the Spartan Duals, Beast of the East, Powerade tournament and Doc Buchanan Invitational.

“I would like to win another state gold,” Sidun said. “I got a lot stronger in the offseason. I showed myself I was ready at the Who’s Number One tournament. I trained a lot.”

Sidun was the second Norwin wrestler to win a state title. The first was Kurtis Phipps in 2020.

Sidun has won 34 consecutive matches. His last loss was against Butler’s Santino Sloboda in the 2024 WPIAL finals.

Brown originally committed to Pitt during his sophomore season.

He changed his mind and picked Penn State because he felt it could better prepare him than Pitt.

“No hard feelings to the Pitt coaches, who are great guys, but I think Penn State does more with heavyweights,” Brown said.

Brown, too, is coming off an injury. He injured his lateral collateral ligament in the state finals against Kiski Area senior Cooper Roscosky.

“I feel great,” Brown said. “I am a lot stronger and in better shape.

“The goal is to win another PIAA and WPIAL title. It will not be easy. It is going to be a challenge. There are a lot of good wrestlers at 215.”

Among that group is Roscosky and Central Catholic junior Roman Thompson, who defeated Ringgold graduate Jake Conroy for third place in the state.

Brown is 127-19 in his career and a two-time WPIAL champion. He was Class 2A champion in 2024.

He was 48-1 last season with his only loss coming against Conroy, 14-10.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Norwin