Norwin coach guiding more young wrestlers to success on national level

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, June 29, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Despite all of his accomplishments coaching wrestling, Kyle Martin still manages to take teams to new levels.

Martin, the head coach at Norwin who spends his WPIAL and PIAA offseasons training youth wrestlers, guided Team Pennsylvania to its first victory in the PA 16U Greco Roman National Duals in more than a decade.

The team won the top prize while competing in Salt Lake City.

“Pretty cool stuff,” the coach said.

Martin has now won five national duals titles.

Three Norwin wrestlers were members of the winning team that competed in Utah: Nathan Klingensmith, Coleton Klipa and Riley Shaffer.

Next up for Martin will be what he calls “The Big Show,” the USA Junior National Wrestling National Championships in Fargo, where he has won six straight titles.

“That is the toughest high school wrestling tournament of the year,” said Martin, who was named the PA director two years ago. “I am really, really hoping we can keep our streak going for the 16U division and three-peat in the junior division.”

He also hopes to guide the 18U junior duals team to its first title. The team placed third last year.

Martin said preparation for the duals tournaments begins six or seven month prior to the competitions.

“The weeks leading up to it are filled with weight changes, getting athletes solid mat strategies and tactics, nutritional tips and then trying to organize 40 15-16 years olds for a week when the time comes,” he said.

He said the latest title carries special meaning because of the three Norwin competitors.

Norwin assistant Lee Newcomer also helped out.

Martin went from Salt Lake City to Milwaukee for more junior duals competition. After that, he will head to the Olympic Training Center for the USA U20 Camp.

He was selected to coach thet U.S. U20 World Team, which will compete internationally.

Asked if all of the traveling and training ever gets old, Martin said, “Never. And it isn’t about the winning, it is about seeing the development of the kids. We have future NCAA champions and future Olympians on these teams. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I have coached over 10 future NCAA champions at the national duals and two world team members.

“I am just humbled to be a fraction of their journey and while winning national titles is exciting in the moment, I know the big picture is to provide a positive competitive experience for the kids and get them on the path to accomplish their goals of success down the road.”

Girls wrestlers compete

Three Norwin varsity girls wrestlers recently returned from the Women’s National Duals in Westfield, Ind.

Octavia Walker came home with a 16U championship with Team Blue, while Josephine Dollman finished fourth with her team at the junior level, and Karsyn Champion was fifth with Team Red.

The girls were gearing up for their next meet, the USA Junior National Wrestling National Championships in Fargo, N.D.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin