New-look roster out to keep standard high for Norwin girls

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 4:01 PM

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Ava Christopher was called on to be a defensive specialist the last two years for Norwin, a role she embraced while putting her offensive skills on the shelf.

As the only returning starter, she will have much more freedom to create shots and score for the Knights, who won the WPIAL Class 6A title two years ago and finished second last year.

“We need her to be a leader,” veteran coach Brian Brozeski said. “She sat in a chair behind players like Bailey (Snowberger) and Lauren (Palangio). She earned her time and bought into that role. She has worked on developing her scoring and her shot. She has even shown some 3-point touch.”

The Knights, who reached the WPIAL 6A championship and lost to Upper St. Clair, 45-40, will have to replace four key seniors in 1,000-point scorer Kendall Berger, Averi Brozeski, Bella Furno and Lexi Heller.

“When I came in, I filled my spot,” Christopher said. “I feel like I have grown into (an offensive role), and the coaches think they can trust in me.”

Two other key returning seniors will look to keep the bar raised. Kylie Rodkey and Anna Fraser will bring bench experience to the rotation, which coach Brozeski expects to be deep again — somewhat inexperienced, but deep.

One thing is certain at Norwin: Players will always push each other for minutes. Practices are rarely stagnant, and coaches are consistently tweaking the finer points.

Fraser, the coach said, could play a similar role to the one Averi Brozeski played last year — a hybrid forward.

“We have a lot more girls and depth,” Fraser said. “We know what Norwin has done in the past, and we want to keep it going.”

Brian Brozeski called Rodkey the most improved player he has coached from her sophomore to senior season.

“People expect a lot less of us,” Rodkey said. “I think we can surprise a lot of people.”

Junior Liz Yarosik also saw time in big games last season and could take a large step forward. She is one of the tallest players at 5-foot-10.

“We will have a lot of competition at point guard,” Brozeski said. “A lot of girls will help there. We’ll have so much youth in our rotation. We played 13 over the summer. Who knows? In two months we might be nine deep.”

Don’t expect Norwin to outrebound taller teams. The Knights lack collective size.

“Two years ago, we had one of the tallest teams,” Brozeski said. “Now we might be one of the smallest, on the other end of it. That’s what makes coaching beautiful. Styles can keep changing, and you keep adapting.”

Others looking to add to the backcourt depth are sophomores Nia O’Barto and Aubrey Graney and Lenyn Brozeski. Also watch promising freshman Giuliana Giannikas.

Norwin girls at a glance

Coach: Brian Brozeski

Last year’s record: 15-8 (9-1 Section 2-6A)

Returning starters: Ava Christopher (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Anna Fraser (Sr., G), Nia O’Barto (So., G), Kylie Rodkey (Sr., G), Liz Yarosik (Jr., G/F)

Top newcomers: Lenyn Brozeski (So., G), Aubrey Graney (So., G)

SCHEDULE

12.2, Penn-Trafford, 6 p.m.

12.5, TBA^

12.6, TBA^

12.9, Thomas Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, at Perkiomen Valley, 6:45 p.m.

12.13, at Spring-Ford, 1:30 p.m.

12.18, Connellsville*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, at Upper St. Clair*, 7 p.m.

12.29, Peters Township+, 4:30 p.m.

12.30, at Trinity+, 3 p.m.

1.5, Mt. Lebanon*, 7:30 p.m.

1.9, at Canon-McMillan*, 7:30 p.m.

1.10, at South Fayette, 1:30 p.m.

1.12, Hempfield*, 7:30 p.m.

1.15, North Hills, 7:30 p.m.

1.22, at Connellsville*, 7:30 p.m.

1.24, at North Catholic, 1:30 p.m.

1.26, Upper St. Clair*, 7:30 p.m.

1.29, at Mt. Lebanon*, 7:30 p.m.

2.2, Canon-McMillan*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, at Hempfield*, 7:30 p.m.

2.9, Latrobe, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^State College tournament

+Peters Township tournament

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

Tags: Norwin