Norwin notebook: Freshman Landon Sidun bursts onto wrestling scene

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, January 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Landon Sidun era is underway at Norwin.

The highly touted freshman wrestler had his “hello, world” moment at one of the toughest tournaments in the country.

Sidun won a championship at 114 pounds at the Powerade Tournament. He was named the event’s outstanding wrestler.

Sidun (25-1) was carrying the torch for the WPIAL and extended the district’s streak of having at least one champion to 57 consecutive years. He defeated Notre Dame Green Pond senior Ayden Smith, the No. 2 seed, 6-1 in the final.

Sidun kept constant pressure on Smith and finally secured a takedown and a three-point near-fall with 30 seconds left.

The victory completed an impressive run through the tournament. Sidun defeated No. 4 seed Ethan Timar of St. Edwards, 3-1, in the quarterfinals and No. 1 seed David Motyka of Wyoming Seminary, 3-1, in the semifinals.

“It was a really hard-fought match,” Sidun said. “I really had to stay engaged the entire match. But at the end of the day, all the practices and hard work paid off in the match.

“My game plan is to wear on dudes. Make them tired so they start making mistakes and slow them down. If I didn’t wear on them, I wouldn’t have gotten that takedown.”

Norwin senior Nathan Campbell, who went 3-0 during the first day to reach the semifinals, dropped a controversial 4-2 decision to Bishop McDevitt’s Lucas Lawler for fifth place at 189. The controversy involved a clock malfunction.

Sidun also finished third in the Beast of the East tournament, falling to PIAA runner-up Quakertown senior Mason Ziegler, 3-2, but coming back to defeat Malvern Prep’s Lukas Littleton Mascaro, 3-2, Seton Hall Prep’s (N.J.) Logan Brzozowski, 3-1, Dodyns-Bennett’s (Tenn.) Mason Jakob, 4-3, and Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Keanu Dillard, 3-1. Dillard is a returning PIAA Class 3A champion, and Littleton Massaro a returning state prep champion.

Sidun was 8-1 at the Beast of the East, including six wins on the second day.

“He’s a special wrestler,” Norwin coach Kyle Martin said. “He’s a hard worker, and he loves to compete. He’s beaten some very good wrestlers this season already.”

Sidun also owns wins against Malvern Prep’s Leo Pezone, 9-1, and Seneca Valley’s Connor Smith, 14-4.

Sidun was a national champion at the USA Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D., over the summer.

All-state honors

Norwin standout senior football players Luke Denny and Jackson Pons were selected to the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 5A all-state team.

Several Norwin football players also made the Class 5A All-Big East Conference all-star list. The first-team offense included Denny and Pons, along with sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares and senior defensive end Aiden Pham.

Cool Hand Luke

Denny popped up on a lot of college radar screens after a big play-filled senior season.

As Division II offers roll in, Denny received a preferred walk-on invitation from a Power Five school. West Virginia presented him with an opportunity to come in and work for a scholarship.

He also has a PWO offer from Akron.

His Division II offers include IUP, Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst and Clarion.

Denny put together a must-see highlight video as he caught 45 passes for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. The catches and yards are program records.

Lady Knights fall

Class 2A basketball power Kennedy Catholic handed the Norwin girls their second loss of the season, 51-50.

Norwin (7-2) had a chance to win in an odd finish. Kendall Berger was fouled on a half-court shot at the buzzer. The junior, though, made only one of three free throws with no time on the clock.

Berger’s halfcourt heave hit the back of the rim.

The Lady Knights were set to open Section 1 play Jan. 2 at North Allegheny.

Knights win

Norwin’s boys won four of five games on the basketball court during the holiday section break, including a 50-24 win over Keystone Oaks at the South Allegheny tournament.

Mario Csukas had 10 points to lead the Knights.

Norwin was 5-3 through eight games, an impressive mark considering the number of graduation losses the team had to deal with.

The Knights took South Allegheny to double overtime before falling, 67-57.

Matijevic, McDowell changing teams

Two Norwin baseball alums will be with new minor league baseball teams this year.

JJ Matijevic declared for minor league free agency after playing a full season with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

Matijevic was named a Houston Astros organizational all-star by MiLB.com. He led the Space Cowboys in doubles (26) and RBIs (76), and he also had 18 home runs and six triples.

Matijevic, a first baseman and designated hitter, saw time in the majors in 2022 and delivered a pair of home runs for the Astros. He received a World Series ring last year as a member of Houston’s taxi squad.

Catcher Max McDowell, meantime, re-signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after being traded by the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

He was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and was invited to spring training.

McDowell played last season with the Reading Fightin Phils and Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

He has a .227 average, 23 homers and 174 RBIs in 561 career games.

Hockey returns

The Norwin hockey team had a lengthy layoff during the holiday break.

In fact, the Knights (7-4-0-2) went 20 days between games. They lost to South Fayette on Dec. 18 and were set to face Franklin Regional on Jan. 8.

Pfeifer ranked

Evan Pfeifer is ranked No. 3 among punters in the Class of 2026 by Kohl’s Kicking Camps.

Pfeifer competed at the Kohl’s Eastern Winter Showcase and graded well. His top kick sailed 48 yards and had a hang-time of 4.46 seconds.

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

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