3-time WPIAL champion Norwin wrestler Phipps has foot surgery

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, April 1, 2019 | 9:21 PM

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Norwin three-time WPIAL champion wrestler Kurtis Phipps, who suffered a foot injury at last month’s PIAA Class AAA championship, underwent surgery March 22, his father, Andy Phipps, said.

Phipps suffered a Lisfranc injury at the state tournament. The recovery time is five months, according to his dad.

There are two types of Lisfranc injuries, Andy Phipps said, “A fracture and a tear. Kurtis had a tear, which is the better of the two injuries.

“What disappoints Kurtis the most is missing some important tournaments the next three months. Taking time off isn’t a bad thing.”

On March 9, Phipps, a 120-pound junior, went to the hospital to get his left foot checked between the semifinals and finals at the state championships in Hershey. Phipps returned to wrestle with a torn ligament in his foot, falling to Nazareth senior Sean Pierson, 9-5. It was the second consecutive season Phipps lost in the finals.

“When he left the hospital, Kurtis was on crutches and had a boot on his left foot,” Andy Phipps said. “When we got outside, he told me he was wrestling in the finals.”

Said Norwin coach Vince DeAugustine, “The fact that he wrestled showed what type of character Kurtis has. He doesn’t complain about injuries. He has a high tolerance for pain, especially when he has a goal in mind. He’s a warrior type of kid.”

While Phipps won’t be competing in the Flo-Nationals, Disney Duals, Virginia Beach Duals and the National High School tournaments, he will be on the road visiting colleges.

The four-time state freestyle champion and three-time state Greco champion has visits set up at Penn, Princeton, Brown and Bucknell. Stanford also has made a visit to Norwin.

“We’re hoping to begin physical therapy in the summer and be back on the fall,” Andy Phipps said.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin