Landon Sidun
School: Norwin
Class: Junior
Sport: Wrestling
Claim to fame: Sidun is the No. 1 ranked 120-/121-pound wrestler in the country by FloWrestling. He recently won the Beast of the East and Powerade tournaments for the second consecutive year. He is a three-time Powerade champion. His career record is 94-2, and he is 22-0 this season. He has won 56 consecutive matches.
What is your reaction to winning Beast of the East and Powerade for the second consecutive year?
It is awesome to win two of the top tournaments in the country against all the established wrestlers I met in the semifinals and finals. It is something I will remember, the caliber of wrestlers I faced.
Your first match after your injury was Who is No. 1. How does winning that event rank to winning the Beast of the East and Powerade?
It was an awesome event. It set up the top two wrestlers. But it does not compare to winning the Powerade. There I got a chance to represent the WPIAL in front of family and friends.
What wrestler (or wrestlers) did you watch the most when you were growing up?
I liked watching Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) a lot. I also liked to watch Luke Pletcher (Latrobe) and Zain Retherford (Penn State). Zain was nasty on top.
What position are you best at?
My preparation. I am ready to go. I prepare well and I am ready when it matters.
Are there any moves you are the best at?
I am good on my feet. I like running a front headlock. I really have grown as a wrestler over the summer. I am different now.
Do you have a go-to move?
No. It is all feel for me.
Do you play any other sport?
No. Maybe football, but I like watching football the most. I tried ice skating with some of my teammates this past week. I was not that good.
Who is the toughest wrestler you have faced?
Anyone I faced at the Beast of the East or Powerade. There are so many great wrestlers out there that I have faced.
Have you picked a college?
I am going to Penn State.
What is your favorite class?
I really like U.S. history.
What is your favorite meal?
I like chicken alfredo.
What is one thing you will not eat?
Tomatoes.
What are your goals this year?
I want to stay healthy and get a chance to win a state title, which I was unable to do last year. I also want to help the team in the team tournaments.
Talk about the excitement with last year’s team?
It was the first time a Norwin team reached the semifinals. It was an exciting run. And beating Thomas Jefferson to qualify for states. It was awesome. The program has made a 180-degree turnaround since Kyle Martin took over the program.
What sport do you enjoy watching?
Football. The Steelers are my favorite team.
What is your prediction for the Steelers/Ravens game on Sunday?
I am hoping the Steelers win. It is going to be stressful.
Do you like Pro wrestling?
No.
Do you like MMA?
Yes. I think it has helped wrestling. I feel more kids are coming out for wrestling because of it. I liked watching Conor McGregor.
What was the last movie you watched?
Dodgeball.
What type of movies do you like?
Comedies.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Gatlinburg, Tenn. There are a lot of neat things you can do there. There are shows, good restaurants, fun activities and hiking.
Where do you hope to visit in the future?
I would like to visit Miami.
Is there a place that wrestling has taken you that you would like to visit again?
I liked San Francisco. I liked the Golden Gate Bridge and saw Alcatraz. I want to see more.
When did you start to wrestle?
I was 5. I still wear the same headgear.
Do you play video games?
No. I used to play Madden with my friends. I was the Steelers.
What do you like to do away from wrestling?
Hang out with my friends, family, my dad and grandpa.
If you could have lunch and dinner with someone famous and special, who would it be and what would you talk about?
My grandpa (Jim Sidun). I would like to just hang out with him. I am not sure what we would talk about.
Zoey Murphy
School: Southmoreland
Class: Senior
Sport: Wrestling
Southmoreland senior Zoey Murphy is the defending WPIAL wrestling champion at 235 pounds. Murphy, who placed second in the state last season, is off to a 10-2 start this season and placed second at the Powerade Tournament and won the Lady Falcon Invitational this past week. Murphy is a three-sport athlete who also competes in volleyball and softball for the Scotties.
Murphy is 60-21 in her wrestling career and finished a career-best 21-2 last season.
Why did you start wrestling?
My mom wrestled when she was in high school. She kind of forced me into it when I was in fifth grade. I told her that I didn’t like it, and I was going to quit. When I brought home the paperwork at the end of the year to do it again next year, she was really proud.
What did you think of your performance at Powerade?
I feel like I could have done better at that tournament. It’s nice to see competition I won’t see at these local tournaments. It helped me get ready for regionals and states.
You wrestled in the state final last season. Is that the highlight of your high school career?
For sure. I enjoyed getting the experience of wrestling in that environment.
What goals do you have for the rest of your senior year?
I would like to go to the states again and commit to a college.
What is the biggest hurdle for you to place at states again?
The defending state champion, (Panther Valley’s) Brenda Banks.
What did you learn from regionals and states last season that you need to have success?
I need to take shots. If I don’t, I can get stuck with my legs under them.
How do you prioritize the sports you participate in?
Softball is prioritized. In my offseason, I wrestle instead. I picked up volleyball again, but it’s not a priority. I took two years off.
Are there any other sports you’d like to try out for you haven’t played before, even something that isn’t a high school sport?
Not really, no.
What sport do you want to play in college?
I want to play softball or wrestle. That’s where the money is at.
What’s it like to balance all the different sports you have along with school?
It’s easy for me because I’ve always been a multi-sport athlete.