Nauman pins down Bethel Park wrestling post
Wrestling influenced Tyler Nauman. Now, he hopes the sport impacts the wrestlers he will coach at Bethel Park High School.
Nauman was hired earlier this month to replace Tim Crawford, who stepped away from coaching because he started a new job that conflicted with the wrestling schedule.
“Wrestling has been a big part of my life,” Nauman said. “I’m excited about getting started and having the opportunity to work with kids and help them get better at something they enjoy, too.”
Nauman enjoyed an outstanding wrestling career before he transitioned into coaching.
Scholastically, he was a four-time PIAA state placewinner at Middletown Area High School. He capped his career with the Outstanding Wrestler Award and a state title at the 2007 PIAA Championships. Additionally, he was the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic’s outstanding wrestler and an NHSCA national runner-up.
Nauman excelled at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a seven-time NCAA qualifier, a two-time NCAA All-American, four-time Eastern Wrestling League conference champion. He ranks third on Pitt’s all-time wins and falls list.
Nauman says he hopes to bring his mat experiences to Bethel Park, which has produced a WPIAL team title in 2009, four individual district champions and 13 individual state placewinners.
“Everybody says winning a state title in high school is hard but many don’t realize how tough college wrestling and being an All-American can be,” Nauman said. “Everybody also likes to win.
“I’m not about that. I want to get them the experience and knowledge that I have been given by my coaches and I have gained. Hopefully, that translates into winning as a team and as individuals.
“I also want to get them exposure and help them move on and get to that next level. Whether that is in different competitions or beyond to college, I want to show them what it takes and get them exposure.”
After leaving the mats, Nauman served as a coach at Drexel, Pitt and Seton Hill as well as Belle Vernon and South Park high schools. He once owned his own wrestling club but continues to instruct at the Quest School of Wrestling.
Recently, he was recognized for his achievements. He was inducted in the PIAA District III and Middletown Area High School halls of fame.
“The biggest thing I bring to the table is how to adapt to each kid and not just coach them individually but to help them on and off the mat,” Nauman said. “Each kid is different so coaching them individually is important. Not everybody responds in the same way. I want to reach each kid individually.”
Nauman meets with his wrestlers Aug. 1 for the first offseason team practice. These sessions run from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
The 2022-23 WPIAL season begins Nov. 18 with the first official practices. The first dates for matches is Dec. 2 with section competition starting Dec. 7.
The WPIAL team championships are set for Feb. 4 and the PIAA team finals are Feb. 9-11 at the Giant Center in Hershey. The PIAA individual championships will be held March 7-9.
This past winter, BP finished 13-7 overall and qualified for the WPIAL team tournament. Individually, the Hawks advanced nine wrestlers for the WPIAL championships, all of whom return to the roster this winter.
Mason Kernan is the top veteran. A rising junior, he was a PIAA qualifier and finished 38-4 in 2022.
Other successful juniors coming back were WPIAL qualifiers: Landon Hartman, Anthony Zaborowski and Cordan McDonnell.
Logan Pettigrew, a rising senior, was a WPIAL qualifier, along with sophomores-to-be Seth Miller, Aden Stout, Ethan Higgins and Ryan Walsh, who already is a Penn State commit but for baseball.
“Obviously we want to win team and individual WPIAL titles and state medals. Put people on the podium in March,” Nauman said of his goals and expectations for the program.
Improvement and resilience will determine the Hawks’ future successes on the mats under Nauman.
“We need to improve day to day and come back better if there are setbacks.
“My goals are for them to grow in the sport and as people. Grow, learn and improve,” he emphasized. “Hopefully that leads to success.
“My job is to get the kids to perform as good as they can. Do that and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Sometimes life interferes in what people love to do. Such was the case with Tim Crawford.
For years, he coached the Bethel Park High School varsity wrestling team, amassing 100 wins.
After the 2021-2022 season, where he guided the Hawks to the WPIAL team playoffs and nine individuals to districts, Crawford stepped away from coaching because he started a new job.
“I enjoyed coaching at my alma mater and I have coached many great athletes,” he said. “I have been fortunate as a coach due to great kids and great assistants.”