Norwin is making its second appearance in the PIAA Class 3A team wrestling tournament but its first journey into the quarterfinals.
There, the Knights will run into a familiar foe, perennial WPIAL power Connellsville at 7 p.m. Friday at Johnstown’s 1st Summit Arena.
Norwin (13-3) finished second to Franklin Regional in the WPIAL tournament, then easily handled District 9 champion DuBois, 55-15, in the first round Tuesday.
Connellsville (19-3) finished third in the WPIAL by defeating Canon-McMillan, 36-26.
The Falcons then advanced to Johnstown by defeating District 12 runner-up La Salle College, 61-6, and District 3 champion Gettysburg, 34-33.
Norwin coach Kyle Martin is a graduate of Connellsville and teaches at his alma mater. The Falcons defeated the Knights in the WPIAL semifinals last year.
“It should be a fun match,” Martin said. “We have been working hard, and Connellsville has some good kids, too.”
Connellsville, which won the PIAA title in 2005, finished third in 2025.
“We are looking forward to the challenge,” Connellsville coach Bill Swink said. “Norwin has a lot of tough wrestlers. Landon Sidun is ranked No. 1 in the country at 121 pounds. But they have other tough wrestlers.
“It will come down to matchups and maybe the coin flip.”
WPIAL champions Franklin Regional (Class 3A) and Derry (Class 2A) also earned a ticket to Johnstown with wins Tuesday.
Franklin Regional (19-0) defeated the District 3 fourth-place team, Palmyra, 45-22, and Derry (15-0) rallied to defeat District 6 runner-up Penns Valley, 44-26.
The Panthers face District 6 champion State College (17-4) at 7 p.m., and the Trojans face the fourth-ranked team in the country, Faith Christian Academy (17-1), at 5 p.m.
Franklin Regional is looking for a third PIAA title after winning back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015.
Nazareth and Bethlehem Catholic are ranked No. 1 and 2 in Class 3A. Franklin Regional is ranked fourth, Norwin fifth and Connellsville ninth.
“I am expecting a close match that can go either way,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “We are looking forward to competing for a state title.”
Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said he knows his team faces a huge challenge.
“They have six of the top wrestlers in the state, and they will probably be favored in 12 of the 13 matches,” Dolan said. “We just need to wrestle our best, get some upsets and see what happens.
“No matter what happens, the goal is to wrestle for either the title or third place.”
Faith Christian is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A, followed by Bishop McCort and Bishop McDevitt. Derry is ranked fifth.
The consolation rounds start at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the semifinals are 10:30 a.m. The finals are slated for 3 p.m.