The Southmoreland High School Boys wrestling team had a very exciting and successful weekend at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association tournament held at Norwin high school.

Senior Jaden Datz won the championship in his weight class, senior Tyler Griffiths placed second in his weight class, and junior Ryan Mauro also placed second in his weight class.

Datz describes the experience as a “great” and a “relief.”

“It’s a great feeling compared to the state tournament just because of the competition within the state, let alone Westmoreland County,” said Datz. “But it’s a relief because I injury defaulted out two years ago after being the second seed, and then last year I placed fourth, but not how I should have.”

Datz also described the competition as challenging.

“Competition was pretty tough because it was a county tournament,” said Griffiths.

Placing at this tournament is just the first of many goals that the wrestlers plan to accomplish this season.

All the athletes have the goal of going to and placing at states. Datz hopes to go to states and place in the top three, and Griffiths hopes to be a state champion this year. He was a state runner-up a year ago.

All the boys dedicate a lot of time and effort to the sport and also spend the off season wrestling with other wrestling organizations.

As for the seniors and their wrestling careers, Griffiths plans to continue his wrestling career in college, and Datz plans to continue his football career in college but not his wrestling career.