Norwin cross country teams show no signs of slowing down

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

If the Norwin cross country program formed a “Hands Across America” type of line, it might stretch longer than the trails on which the teams run.

And the weather wouldn’t matter.

“We have 150 kids (high school and middle school) out there running in the hot weather and elements all summer and fall, and that really helps foster a running community and family,” Norwin coach Brian Fleckenstein said. “These kids do well at running because we pride ourselves in spending a lot of time together as team all offseason.”

A new season is underway and the Norwin boys will start out as defending WPIAL Class 3A champions, while the girls were second in 2024.

Both teams made the PIAA playoffs.

Here is a look at each team:

Girls thrive at big meets

Norwin has the talent to bring home its first WPIAL title since 2009. The Knights also took sixth in the PIAA last year.

Senior Annie Czajkowski will lead the team again, along with juniors Jillian Ryba, Anna Dansak, Emily Dansak, Addie Farrah, Kaelyn Lazar and Ciera Berthelsen.

Czajkowski medaled at the PIAA championships. She took fifth in the 3,200 and eighth in the 1,600 at the indoor track and field championships. Her time of 10:32 in the 3,200 is a school record.

“The front running of Annie combined with the tight pack of juniors right behind her allow the team to score well in big invitationals and championships,” Fleckenstein said.

The girls cruised to a season-opening win at the Hoka Kickoff Classic in Ohio, where they tallied 62 points, 111 better than Avon.

Boys retool lineup

With their top three finishers gone, the Knights will look to fill voids in the lineup.

Three sophomores are expected to set the pace for a young team in sophomore Ben McBride, Alex Barret and Will Little.

McBride ran a time of 16 minute, 2 seconds at the Hoka Classic, where Norwin finished higher than WPIAL champion Butler and runner-up North Allegheny.

Barret set a program record trial time in the 3,000 meters (9:07) in August.

Other chasers include junior Owen Rankin, freshmen Ransom Gaydos and Declan O’Donnell, senior Maerek Moenssens and junior Atticus Knight.

“The expectations have been raised on the team this year through a championship culture that’s been developed,” Fleckenstein said. “Both the boys and girls teams aim to capture a section title, go after a WPIAL title and have a strong showing at states.

“A fellow coach told me once that we (coaches) have to stop putting limits on these kids. These young kids believe they can run fast and as a coach, it is our job to enable them to do so and build that belief.”

Neither Norwin team has lost a section race since 2021.

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

Tags: Norwin