Datz takes 160-pound section wrestling championship

After a weekend of two separate tournaments in the span of two days, Southmoreland junior Jaden Datz is coming out of the team regular season with a record of 31-6 and a section championship, along with being second in the WPIAL tournament, but he isn’t done yet.

“These next four weeks are brutal for wrestlers,”said Datz.” It’s four straight weeks of wrestling, and the competition gets better each week.”

As the season continues into the individual competition, Datz looks to take his season the whole way to states to continue what Southmoreland graduate Jake Beistel started last year.

“I have to make it to regionals and survive there,”said Datz.”Regionals is where the good gets separated from the best and the best gets separated from the greatest.”

Datz took on Christian Clutter of McGuffey in both his final matches, leaving him with a record against him for the weekend of 1-1.

“Jaden was for me overall a more defensive wrestler,”Clutter told the Tam O’Shanter. ”Every match I have from now on is going to be tough, and having these matchups with him definitely will help me as I go deeper into the individual part of the season.”

Datz credits his achievements and the wrestler he has become to his father and coaches Steve Santia and Carmen Testa.

“All three of them have pushed me to be the best that I can be,”said Datz.” If it weren’t for them, all the times I’ve wanted to give up I probably would have.”

Datz, a junior, makes his way to regionals this weekend at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to continue his run at a state title. 

About Loralee Yutzy
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