HARTSVILLE, S.C. — Noah Korenoski’s original plan didn’t include college.
And then the plan changed.
“I was actually enrolled to be a linesman on electrical lines,” Korenoski said, who graduated from Westmont Hilltop (PA) High in 2020 after 111 high school wrestling wins. “Then in April or May, (Garrett assistant coach) Tanner Cahill called me wondering why I wasn’t going to be wrestling in college.”
Eventually, Cahill and then-GC head coach John Chambers convinced Korenoski to wrestle at Garrett.
That decision led Korenoski to two NJCAA national tournament berths, a Gulf Atlantic 157-pound district championship, and an opportunity to continue his wrestling career at Division II Coker University.
Chambers emphasized Korenoski needed to take advantage of the athletic and academic opportunities available to him at Garrett.
“He [Chambers] made a spreadsheet when I came in for my first advising meeting that listed out all the classes I’d take – it was just laid out in front of me,” Korenoski said, who was a two-time NJCAA Academic All-American while with the Lakers. “He said, ‘Noah, if you follow this plan you won’t have a problem.’ ” I recently told him, ‘Coach, I still have that spreadsheet.’ ”
Korenoski, who already has an undergraduate degree from Coker, will be wrestling this year as a fifth-year COVID senior in a master’s degree program in administration and leadership.
He helped the Cobras to a 9-5 record last season, including 4-5 in the Conference Carolinas.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” Chambers said, who resigned as wrestling coach after the 2022-23 season but remains an academic advisor at the College. “Here’s a kid who wasn’t even going to go to college who has already obtained a four-year degree and is now in a master’s program.”
Korenoski won the 157-pound Gulf Atlantic district title to earn his second consecutive national tournament berth in 2022. That individual crown helped the Lakers earn a share of the team title.
Korenoski – who earned a fifth-place finish at 157 pounds in the 2024 NCAA Division II Super Regional – was named to the Conference Carolinas Winter/Spring Academic All-Conference team in March with a 3.58 grade-point average (GPA).
He cited Garrett College with pointing him in the right direction.
“It was just a tremendous starting place for me,” said Korenoski. “It ultimately led me to my success today.”
Korenoski said studying and competing at a southern institution became a goal for him.
“I’ve always wanted to go down south,” he said. “To call it home now is even more special. I’ve met people here who will be in my life forever.”
Korenoski credited Chambers with helping him achieve his dream.
“Coach Chambers has been a big part of my success,” said Korenoski, who asked Chambers to be one of his references in his master’s program application.
“It was an honor and a privilege for me to write a recommendation letter for Noah,” said Chambers.
“It’s crazy to think that I wasn’t going to be a college student or athlete and here I am going into my fifth year of collegiate wrestling and going for a master’s degree,” said Korenoski, adding, “It’s a journey – that’s for sure!”