Cheswick Christian boys basketball prepped for year of milestones

By: Ted Sarneso
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 7:28 PM

Purchase Photo Options

The seniors on the Cheswick Christian Academy boys basketball team have a chance to do something many don’t often accomplish.

Last year’s team finished first in the Greater Pittsburgh Division of the Southwestern Christian Athletic Conference (SWCAC) with a 10-0 record and went on to claim the SWCAC championship with a 64-36 win over Pittsburgh Christian Academy.

It was the Chargers’ third straight division championship and second conference championship in three appearances.

This year’s seniors have a chance to go for a fourth consecutive division and third straight conference championship.

“We have never won three conference titles in a row as a school,” coach Todd Rosio said. “We did win the division four times in a row one other time when we did win it five straight years. It’s a chance for them to do something unique.”

The pieces are there for this year’s team to make a run at repeating.

Leading the way for that senior group are guard Joseph Rosio and forward Brady Rochkind, who shared the league MVP last year. Both are looking to hit individual milestones during the season.

Rochkind has a chance to finish as the school’s second all-time leading rebounder, and Rosio could wind up the school leader in assists and steals. Rosio is already the all-time leader in 3-pointers made.

The duo will also be making a run at the No. 2 spot on the school’s career points list.

“The total is 1,775 points,” Coach Rosio said. “The worst case is they end up third or fourth on that list. They’re both in the 1,100s right now, but there’s still a chance they can be second or third on that list when all is said and done.”

The leader on the team’s all-time scoring list, Ben Pollock, is an assistant coach with the Chargers, and Coach Rosio said Pollock was sweating it out doing the math last year.

“He told me he didn’t know if he was safe with how many points both those guys put up last year,” Coach Rosio said. “But I think he’s pretty safe.”

Pollock finished his career with 1,900 points.

The only thing that can hamper Rochkind and Rosio from reaching the top of the all-time list is injuries, which the Chargers endured a lot of last year.

“We had more games missed than we did in an average season,” the coach said. “Brady and two of our bench players played in every game last year. Everyone else missed time somewhere with one thing or another. It was a blessing and a curse.”

The curse was that the injuries cost Cheswick Christian the chance to win 21 games in a row last year, which would have been a school record.

“We had to play an almost unconventional lineup in that loss,” Rosio said. “We lost by two points, which was a pain, but went on to close the season on a seven-game win streak.”

The blessing part of that equation was that a lot of bench players who return this year saw a lot of extended time on the court and built up some experience.

Two such players are juniors Naz Weaver and Sam Kostick. They were the pair of bench players to play in every game injury-free last year.

“We started practice last week and comparing our first practice this year to the first practice last year, they’re each different players,” Rosio said. “They would be starters from the beginning unless something surprising happens between now and the games. I think one or both of them have a chance to make an all-conference team.”

The only other returning starter from last season is senior Hayden Kazmer, who Rosio likens to Draymond Green, not in temperament, but how he has his hands in everything on the court.

“Hayden is one of those guys who plays winning basketball,” Rosio said. “He scores points, rebounds, plays solid defense, takes a charge, dives on the floor for loose balls. His game meshes well with Brady and Joseph.”

Coming off the bench are senior Caleb Bonomo, who was the most injured player last year, and sophomore Carter Patterson. They will also look to form defined roles as the season progresses.

Just like last year, the Chargers will run back a similar nonconference schedule filled with WPIAL opponents. Last year, Cheswick went 3-5 in such contests to begin the season.

“We’re in the St. Joe’s Christmas tournament, the Aquinas tip-off tournament, which we did last year, and we have a game with Springdale,” Rosio said. “We go to Geibel, who is a solid team and made the playoffs last year. Beaver County Christian was also a playoff team last year and we play. Trinity Christian, who is pretty solid and gave us a good game last year.”

However the season ends, Rosio wants his team to know that they’ve done plenty in the previous couple of years and should they fall short of another division and conference title, they shouldn’t hang their heads.

“We’re playing with house money at this point,” Rosio said. “This senior group has done some pretty spectacular things and if we can add to that, it’s even more outstanding, but if it doesn’t go the way we want, it’s still been an outstanding career for them.”

Cheswick Christian Academy boys at a glance

Coach: Todd Rosio

Last year’s record: 23-7 (10-0 Greater Pittsburgh Division of the SWCAC)

Returning starters: Brady Rochkind (Sr., F), Joseph Rosio (Sr., G), Hayden Kazmer (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Sam Kostick (Jr., G), Naz Weaver (Jr., G), Caleb Bonomo (Sr., F), Carter Patterson (So., F)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

12.2, at Plants and Pillars, 6:30 p.m.

12.5, South Park^, 7 p.m.

12.6, TBD^, TBD

12.9, at Geibel Catholic, 7 p.m.

12.11, at Beaver County Christian, 6:15 p.m.

12.13, Trinity Christian#, TBD

12.19, at Portersville Christian, 6 p.m.

12.29, at St. Joseph+, 7:30 p.m.

12.30, TBD+, TBD

*Section game

^Aquinas Academy tip-off tournament

+St. Joseph holiday tournament

#At Penn State New Kensington

Note: Remaining schedule TBD

Tags: Cheswick Christian