Norwin's Tadich, Pezze have sights set on state wrestling titles

Todd Schuchert has been working tirelessly to help build Norwin's wrestling program into one of the most successful in the state.

“We have great numbers from junior high coming through,” the Norwin coach said. “We had six kids wrestling on Saturday at (the WPIAL Class AAA individual championships), six kids were wrestling on the last day of that tournament. Really, that's big.”

Now, Schuchert is ready to see seniors John Pezze and Matt Tadich finish the job of building Norwin into a state-wide wrestling power when they take part in the PIAA Class AAA Individual Championships beginning Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

After placing second at the WPIAL tournament this weekend, Pezze (34-1) will open his run toward a coveted state title with a 130-pound, preliminary-round match against Shyheim Brown (44-7) of Central Dauphin.

Tadich (31-1), who took third-place honors at WPIALs, will face State College's Scott Bosak (33-5) in a 140-pound preliminary-round bout.

While Norwin has had wrestlers advance to the state championship tournament before, there is just one important piece missing from the program's resume.

“For these two guys to kind of put Norwin on the map with a state title would be huge,” Schuchert said Monday. “This school hasn't had one ever. This would be a giant step for this program.”

And Schuchert has a good feeling that drought now could be close to finally being over.

“Just placing on the podium, right now, I don't think is the main goal for either of them,” the coach said. “They want to go there and win a title — that's the goal for both of them. Anything less than that would be a slight disappointment.”

Last year Pezze advanced to the PIAA tournament, but lost his first two matches and failed to place.

After failing to earn a WPIAL title as the top seed in the 130-pound weight class this weekend, he will look to use his past disappointments as motivation to earn the ultimate prize of a state championship.

“I know what I've got to do,” Pezze, who is being recruited by Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown universities, said. “I feel confident about where I am in the bracket. I can definitely make my way to the state finals.”

For Pezze, that will mean controlling one particular aspect of his matches.

“Johnny needs to keep his pace,” Schuchert said. “He's had problems in the past with kids who really try to slow a match down for him. He's a great scrambler, getting into funny positions where it's not just about technique, it's about position and movement.”

“Over the years he got really good at that,” the coach added. “I think if he can open matches up where it's more of a higher scoring match, he'll do really well.”

Tadich will look to take an opposite approach, competing in a highly competitive 140-pound weight class.

“He's really good on his feet,” Schuchert said. “His defense is second-to-none and on top he's just a bear. A lot of guys go neutral because they don't want to go underneath him. I think that's one of Matt's strong points that he can really punish kids.”

Last year, Tadich fell just short of advancing to the state tournament after suffering an injury during the WPIAL championships.

Without any injuries blocking his path this time around, the Lehigh University recruit is ready to end his high school career on a high note.

“For Matt, it's just about him doing what he can do and he could definitely win the tournament,” Schuchert said.

And that same confidence definitely has transferred from Schuchert to his wrestlers.

“What we've been doing this year has been working for us,” Pezze said. “We've only lost one time. We've got to just keep the pedal to the metal now. Keep the throttle going.”