Healthier Norwin boasts size, depth, confidence

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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To appreciate the level of excitement at Norwin heading into a new season, one must first understand what the team endured last year.

Injuries gnawed the Knights to the bone. It was painful and grueling.

“We only had one game where everybody was healthy,” third-year coach Mike Brown said. “And that was the opener against Penn-Trafford. We lost three starters in that game. There were 26 starting positions injured throughout the season. A lot of guys played both ways. We had so many guys playing out of position.”

How things have changed.

A wave of refreshment has washed over the program — numbers are up, depth has increased, and bodies are healed — and the Knights are eyeing a turnaround year after going 2-8 and losing their final eight games.

The jarring speed bumps were gone on the campus parking lots this summer. It might be a sign.

“If we don’t make the playoffs, it will be a disappointment,” a confident Brown said. “That’s the goal. That’s always the goal. But I think we have the team to do it.”

There were upwards of 95 players — 30 freshmen — attending summer workouts. Backups are prepping to play more natural positions and putting pressure on would-be starters.

“We’re two-deep everywhere,” Brown said. “The smallest class is the seniors, with 19. Last year, we had guys in spots they didn’t earn. Sometimes when you lost somebody, you lost three positions. It’s nice what we have now.

“I don’t see any holes anywhere. There is nobody we have to hide.”

Competing in Class 6A requires depth and size, and the Knights look to have both.

“We have a lot back up front,” Brown said. “A negative you always hear about Norwin is that they don’t have any linemen. Well, we do this year. We aren’t going to have to send a 215-pounder out there to block.”

Talented quarterback Tristyn Tavares returns after a limited seven-game season because of a knee injury (MCL strain). Tavares threw for 1,388 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 308 yards and eight scores while leading the fast-paced offense, which could see three- and four-receiver sets again.

Tavares threw for a school- record 2,459 yards and 25 TDs as a sophomore.

“If we can keep him healthy and clean, it will be huge for us,” Brown said. “He is so valuable. If he didn’t have the arm he does, he’d be an all-conference running back. He extends so much. He’ll sell out.”

The bulked-up line will include senior three-year starter Patrick Schmook (6-0, 250), senior Lucas Altier (6-4, 315), a Division I prospect who broke his foot in Week 2 and did not return, junior Sebastian Summerville (6-1, 260), and junior Hunter Luchkiw (5-10, 260).

New assistant Mike Shannon, the former Frazier head coach, and alum Anthony Giansante will coach the line.

A pair of sophomores with potential Division I futures are Will Bossart (6-5, 275) and Gavin Gonda (6-3, 305), who will fortify the front row.

Another tackle to watch is junior Max Fierle (6-3, 270), who tore his ACL on the opening kickoff of last season. Brown called Fierle the biggest loss because of injury.

His brother, freshman Jonah Fierle (6-2, 250), is making fast strides.

“It’s better to have 10 or 12 Division II or III guys and go 7-2 than have two Division I guys and go 3-7,” Brown said. “This group has a closeness. They play as a team. The individuality aspect is gone.”

The running game, traditionally another weak link for the Knights, will be powered by top returning rusher Giovanni Rothrauff, a 205-pound junior who ran for 607 yards and averaged 4.2 yards per carry.

Another junior, Dylan Grieves (6-1, 210) also will get carries. He missed last season with a foot injury suffered in training camp.

“They’ll be a two-headed monster,” Brown said.

Tavares has options at receiver in top returning pass catcher Jake Knight, a senior who caught 30 for 422 yards and four TDs.

Senior Zach Pawling had 23 grabs for 348 yards.

Junior Potter Brozeski (6-3, 175) is expected to have a more significant role offensively, and senior Ben Markle returns after missing the last two seasons with a pair of ACL tears.

His toughness is contagious, his coach said.

“He has a chippiness to him,” Brown said. “He wants to go to the military.”

Seniors Josh Lenart (6-2, 210) and Michel DeFazio (6-3, 215) will play H-back. Lenart played quarterback last year when Tavares went down.

Defensively, Max Fierle could be a handful at defensive end, with junior Gio Algeri rushing from the other end.

The Knights could use as many as five down linemen. Norwin gave up 18 sacks in 2024.

Junior Santino Brasco, senior Mason Kugler and Lenart return at linebacker.

Kugler is the top returning tackler with 42 stops. Brasco had 37 tackles and two sacks.

Corners include Markle and Pawling, with Knight and Brozeski lining up at safety.

The secondary only had two interceptions last year, and the Knights only forced five turnovers.

A newcomer will handle the kicking duties in soccer player Tristan Josephic, whereas nationally rated punter Evan Pfeifer returns.

Pfeifer (6-3, 180), who is ranked No. 14 nationally in the Class of 2026 by Kohl’s Kicking Camps, averaged 42.1 yards last season.

Several new coaches have joined Brown’s staff, including former Norwin standouts Gianni Rizzo and Luke Levandosky.

“We have a lot of young guys,” Brown said. “High energy.”

Norwin has not been to the WPIAL playoffs since 2017 and has not won a playoff game or had a winning season since 2007.

Norwin

Coach: Mike Brown

2024 record: 2-8, 0-6 in Class 6A

All-time record: 401-612-36

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Penn-Trafford, 7

8.29 Kiski Area, 7

9.5 at Latrobe, 7

9.12 at Seneca Valley*, 7

9.19 North Allegheny*, 7

9.26 at North Hills, 7

10.3 Hempfield*, 7

10.10 at Central Catholic*, 7

10.17 Canon-McMillan*, 7

10.24 Mt. Lebanon*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Tristyn Tavares

98-183, 1,388 yards, 9 TDs

Rushing: Giovanni Rothrauff

146-607 yards, 2 TDs

Receiving: Jake Knight

30-422 yards, 4 TDs

FAST FACTS

• Head coach Mike Brown will also serve as the team’s defensive coordinator.

• The Knights are slated to play five home games, vs. Kiski Area, North Allegheny, Hempfield, Canon-McMillan and Mt. Lebanon. The last two are in the final two weeks of the regular season.

• A 26-14 win over Penn-Trafford in Week Zero last year was the Knights’ 400th all time.

• Norwin allowed 32.5 points per game last season.

• Norwin and its opponents both converted 41% of their third downs.

• New assistant coaches include former Knights’ impact players Gianni Rizzo and Luke Levandosky, former Frazier head coach Mike Shannon and Lucas Renick, a former Bishop Canevin assistant.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

1, Jake Knights, WR/DB, 5-11/180, sr.

2, Giovanni Rothrauff, RB/LB, 5-9/205, jr.

3, Tristyn Tavares, QB/DB, 5-11/195, sr.

4, Zack Pawling, WR/DB, 5-11/185, sr.

5, Josh Lenart, HB/LB, 6-2/210, sr.

6, Xavier Holtzman, WR/DB, 5-11/165, jr.

7, Ben Markel, WR/DB, 5-11/175, sr.

8, Michael DeFazio, HB/LB, 6-3/205, sr.

9, Cooper Wilson, WR/DB, 5-9/165, sr.

10, Potter Brozeski, QB/DB, 6-3/175, jr.

11, Conner Urey, HB/LB, 5-11/200, sr.

12, Max Ritz, QB/DB, 5-10/150, so.

13, Evan Lee, WR/DB, 5-8/155, jr.

14, Maddox Pivarnik, WR/DB, 5-10/175, jr.

15, Ashton Comunal, QB/DB, 5-8/165, so.

18, James Scott, WR/DB, 5-10/150, jr.

19, Garret Natale, WR/DB, 5-11/175, fr.

20, Michael Wills, WR/DB, 6-0/170, so.

21, Carson Miller, WR/DB, 6-1/195, jr.

22, Dylan Grieves, RB/LB, 6-1/210, jr.

23, Benard Spada, WR/DB, 6-2/175, sr.

25, Parker Rigo, RB/DB, 5-8, 165, so.

26, Masyn Ritter, WR/DB, 5-5/125, so.

27, Ethan Hunter, WR/LB, 5-8/150, so.

29, Graham Gardner, WR/DB, 5-7/150, so.

30, Chase Drake, WR/DB, 6-0/155, so.

31, Nico Migliozzi, WR/DB, 5-8/140, so.

32, Tyler Botta, WR/DB, 5-11/145, so.

33, Locke Meyers, HB/LB, 6-0/210, so.

34, Sauly Guyaux, HB/LB, 6-0/180, jr.

35, Aiden Alfera, WR/DB, 6-0/180, so.

36, Madden Dietrich, RB/LB, 5-6/190, so.

37, Shawn Burton, WR/DB, 5-7/120, so.

38, Giovanni Pirillo, HB/LB, 6-0/195, so.

39, Kameron Klass, WR/LB, 6-2/205, jr.

40, Gio Algeri, HB/LB, 6-2/215, jr.

41, Vincent Omlor, HB/DL, 5-10/195, so.

42, Bryan Maglicco, HB/LB, 5-11/175, so.

43, Steven Kaefer, HB/LB, 6-2/175, so.

44, Santino Brasco, HB/LB, 5-11/205, jr.

45, Logan Hunter, HB/LB, 5-8/160, so.

50, Mason Kugler, OL/LB, 5-10/215, sr.

51, Vinh Troung, HB/DL, 5-10/190, jr.

52, Evan Jurgen, OL/DL, 5-7/190, so.

53, Jonah Fierle, OL/DL, 6-1/260, fr.

54, Patrick Schmook, OL/DL, 6-0/250, sr.

55, Maxsym Fierle, OL/DL, 6-3/250, jr.

56, Colton Jordan, OL/DL, 6-4/280, jr.

57, Lucas Altier, OL/DL, 6-4/305, sr.

58, Sebastion Summerville, OL/DL, 6-1/255, jr.

59, Willam Bossart, OL/DL, 6-4/275, so.

60, Sullivan Fullem, OL/DL, 5-8/195, so.

61, Gavin Gonda, OL/DL, 6-3/310, so.

63, Roman Bruno, OL/DL, 6-1/275, so.

64, Zachary Nichols, OL/DL, 6-1/195, so.

66, Bennett Braid, OL/DL, 6-0/225, so.

67, James Gray, OL/DL, 6-0/210, sr.

68, Hunter Luchkiw, OL/DL, 6-0/265, jr.

70, Aiden Benco, OL/DL, 5-7/275, jr.

71, Liam Homer, OL/DL, 5-9/230, jr.

73, Wyatt Vogel, OL/DL, 6-8/210, sr.

74, Jacob Carney, OL/DL, 6-4/325, sr.

79, Christian Twele, OL/DL, 5-8/290, jr.

95, Evan Pfeifer, K/P, 6-3/175, sr.

99, Tristan Josephic, K 5-10/160, sr.

Jax Barton, OL/DL, 6-0/220, fr.

Jaden Bautista, WR/DB, 6-1/165, fr.

Grady Brown, WR/DB, 5-9/165, fr.

Jermiah Cole, LB/DB, 5-9/155, fr.

Camden Coulson, OL/DL, 5-9/250, fr.

Sonny Dull, RB/LB, 5-10/180, fr.

Jack Fraser, HB/LB, 5-8/165, fr.

Dominc Fry, OL/DL, 6-0/205, fr.

Tommy Holleran, HB/LB, 6-1/210, fr.

Jacob Lenart, QB/DB, 5-5/135, fr.

Ayden Lesko, WR/DB, 5-6/110, fr.

Rylan Michalak, WR/DB, 5-6/130, fr.

Malaki Mineweaser, OL/DL, 5-9/165, fr.

Max Siranni, K/P, 5-8/160, fr.

Hunter Smith, OL/DL, 5-10/255, fr.

Ben Taylor, WR/DB, 5-5/125, fr.

Andrew Tudor, WR/DB, 5-8/145, fr.

Aiden Washowich, WR/DB, 6-2/130, fr.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin