Norwin wrestling coach Kyle Martin went to his top six wrestlers before Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 3A team quarterfinal against Trinity and simply put the weight on their shoulders.
They responded in a big way.
The second-seeded Knights got pins by Landon Sidun (121 pounds), Coleton Klipa (127), Brooks Blasko (139), Nathan Klingensmith (145) and Noah Curran (152) and a technical fall by Jack White (160) and defeated No. 7 Trinity, 35-31.
The Hillers (10-2) won the final six matches but did not accumulate enough bonus points to overcome the 35-3 deficit.
Both teams breezed to wins in the first round. Norwin defeated Seneca Valley, 54-18, and Trinity buried West Allegheny, 50-6.
“We were looking for four pins and two wins with bonus points,” Martin said. “Getting five pins was a bonus. I also was pleased to see Jack go after the pin.”
Norwin also had other wrestlers who did not win but fought to prevent bonus points.
Dom Butera took Trinity’s Dom Canali, a PIAA place winner, into overtime.
Dane Petrarco (215) battled a good wrestler in Ian Holub and did not get pinned. Riley Shaffer put up a good fight at 172, losing 6-2 and not allowing bonus points to Behr Bruckner.
“Our regular heavyweight is in Georgia at a lineman camp and our backup (Sebastian Summerville) took his kid into overtime,” Martin said. “Everyone contributed to the win.
“We also started out in a great place in the lineup with Landon, Coleton, Brooks, Nathan and Noah.”
Sidun got the crowd revved up with a 34-second pin.
“That is a great team,” Trinity coach Ron Tarquinio said. “We won seven of the 13 matches, but we gave up too many bonus points.
“Starting with Sidun was a perfect starting point for them. They came out firing away. We had to be a little grittier in those matches.”
Teagan Barr (189) had a pin for the Hillers and Parker Jennings (107) and Jackson Hoy (114) were awarded forfeits.
Norwin (11-2) will now face No. 3 Canon-McMillan, which defeated Belle Vernon and North Allegheny on Wednesday, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at AHN Arena at Peters Township.
No. 1 Franklin Regional faces No. 4 Connellsville in the other semifinal.