Ed Trizzino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any guy, or girl for that matter, who went to St. Ann’s in the 1970’s should remember the lunch time game of Blood Ball. I have talked to a lot of our classmates over the years, and although the best Blood Ball player from our class may remain in question, there is no question that Ed Trizzino was among the best. Truth be told, he gets my vote.

 

Remembering Ed, I either picture him elluding a would­ be mauler on the playground, or as the kid whose shirt was untucked, missing buttons, or torn, and whose tie was yanked taut and flung over his shoulder, and let’s not forget that mop of hair that went in every direction imaginable. Matter of fact, I don’t think there was a more disheveled kid in our entire class.

 

Since leaving St. Ann’s, Ed has done a pretty good job of putting himself together. After attending Cathedral Latin for three years, Ed finished his High School days at Chanel. Ed was a terrific wrestler at Latin and after transferring to Chanel, Ed finished his high school wrestling career as the 3rd best wrestler in the state of Ohio’s Division AA, in the 138 pound weight class.

 

Ed would continue grappling at Mount Union where he attended college, and would graduate with a degree in Physical Education in 1984. Ed would also continue to have success on the mat. As a 150 pounder, Ed would became a three-­time OAC Champion, earning All-­American honors twice during his collegiate career, and finishing fifth overall at Nationals in '83 and sixth in '84. At the time Ed finished his college wrestling career at Mount Union, he was the all-time school leader in number of wrestling wins.

 

After leaving The Mount, Ed continued his academics at Miami University, where he worked as a graduate assistant wrestling coach, and was awarded his Masters Degree in Education in 1985. From there, Ed was hired by Jamestown College in North Dakota, where he taught physical education courses and was the wrestling coach for a three year period.

 

Longing for home, Ed returned to Cleveland and became a salesman for Frito-­Lay. It was during that time that Ed met and married his wife Sandy, whom he first encountered while working at the old Severance Athletic Club in Cleveland Heights. Ed seems surprised that he’s been married for 22 years, but I’m not sure if that surprise is because he can’t believe time has flown so quickly, or just surprised that he convinced someone to marry him in the first place.

 

A diehard Browns fan, Ed and Sandy moved their family of five, 3 boys (Eddie ­21, Nicholas­ 19, Dante ­18) and 2 girls (Gemma ­17, Marissa ­13) to Pittsburgh eleven years ago. Sandy, a native of the steel town, is a pharmacist at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Ed is now a route salesman for Utz snack foods and the family currently live in Robinson Township, a suburb 20 minutes west of Pittsburgh.

 

As for what occupies Ed’s time now; his main, and most important activity is following his kids and watching them grow into adults and hoping that they make good positive choices as they find their way in the world. His other passion is following college and international wrestling which occupies a lot of his free time as he often attends matches, reads about the history of wrestling and watches matches on the computer.

 

As for the future, He and Sandy would like to move to Arizona once his kids are on their own and then they can spend their time relaxing and enjoying the never ending sun. Ed was never fancy, but he has always been a rock solid guy, and now he takes pride in the fact that he is a solid husband and father. These roles have always been more important to Ed then any accolades he’s earned on the wrestling mat, and my guess is that his family would be in total agreement.