No. 4 Norwin wrestling rallies to defeat rival Penn-Trafford, stay unbeaten
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Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | 10:40 PM
Penn-Trafford’s Cael Ott grabs the leg of Norwin’s Nick Puskar during their 160-pound match Wednesday.
Penn-Trafford sophomore Ben Grabowski takes down Norwin’s Billy Petko during their 215-pound match Wednesday.
Norwin’s Jack White pins Penn-Trafford’s Dylan Clayton with a cradle during their 152-pound bout Wednesday.
Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett controls Norwin’s Coleton Klipa during their 114-pound match Wednesday.
Norwin’s Nathan Klingensmith takes down Penn-Trafford’s Gino Pecora during their 139-pound bout Wednesday.
It is not the way Norwin wrestling coach Kyle Martin wanted his team to start the match Wednesday against rival Penn-Trafford.
But he was pleased with the way they finished.
The No. 4-ranked Knights (12-0, 2-0) lost the first four matches in the Section 9-3A first-place showdown but rallied for a 35-22 victory.
Norwin, which trailed 18-0 and 22-9, won the final six bouts to pull out the win.
“It was a good starting point for them,” Martin said. “It’s not how we like to start a match. They have tough kids in the upper weights, but we’re better in the lighter weights and they all stepped up.
“They were able to make up some points that we shouldn’t have allowed. Some of our guys must do a better job fighting. Wrestling is a selfless sport.”
Penn-Trafford (4-4, 1-1) couldn’t have started better as Cael Ott (160 pounds), Logan Matrisch (172) and Tasso Whipple (189) all recorded major decision wins, and Ben Grabowski (215) finished the run with a pin.
But Norwin found its footing in the heavyweight match as Sebastian Summerville got the Knights on the board with a 2-1 victory against Jamison Yurt. The Knights got a forfeit at 107, cutting the lead to 18-9.
“Our upper weights did a great job,” Penn-Trafford coach Travis McKillop said. “Norwin is a little stronger than we are in the lower weights. But there were a lot of positive things for our team. I’m proud how they fought.”
Junior Dylan Barrett picked up the Warriors’ last win of the match, a 13-4 victory against friend Coleton Klipa at 114.
Then the Knights took control.
Landon Sidun (121) and Brooks Blasko (127) each won by technical fall, and Dom Butera (133) won a decision to tie the score at 22-all.
Nathan Klingensmith (139) made it 26-22 with a 15-6 victory against Gino Pecora, and Gage Mamie (145) completed the comeback with a 4-0 victory against Sidney Hand.
Jack White (152) ended the match with a first-period pin.
“As a coach, I have to do a better job getting some of the kids to buy into what it takes to be successful,” Martin said. “That’s what we will focus on the next several weeks.”
Both teams will be competing in the 71st Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday and Saturday at Greensburg Salem.
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: Norwin, Penn-Trafford
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