Norwin notebook: Boys track team keeps section winning streak alive

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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One impressive streak continued, while another finally ended.

The Norwin track and field teams traveled to Hempfield to run, jump and throw for more section championships.

The boys extended their section winning streak to 32 with a 78-72 win over the Spartans, while the girls fell, 80-70, to see their run of 41 straight section wins end.

The girls streak began in 2017, the boys in 2019.

Both Norwin teams are reigning WPIAL champions. They will have the chance to defend their titles in the WPIAL finals May 5 at West Mifflin.

In the boys semifinals at Baldwin, Norwin defeated Canon-McMillan, 90-46, Baldwin, 100-36, and Uniontown, 121-13, to reach the finals.

In the girls semifinals, Norwin beat South Fayette via criteria, most points scored, after the teams tied 75-75. The Knights also defeated Upper St. Clair, 120-30, and Connellsville, 134-16.

County track

Norwin’s Annie Czajkowski won two events at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Championships at Mt. Pleasant, taking first in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

She defended her title in the 1,600.

The Norwin girls finished second in the team standings, falling by one point (124-123) to Hempfield.

Norwin’s Joe Cramer placed second in the 400-meter run, Alexander Barrett took second in the 1,600, Jeremiah Francis was second in the 110 hurdles, Tyler Beck took second in the 300 hurdles, and the 400 relay also was a silver medalist.

For the Norwin girls, the 400 and 3,200 relays won gold, while McKenzi Carpenter was second in the 400, Anna Dansak took second in the 1,600, and Jillian Ryba was the runner-up in the 3,200.

The 400 relay was Gabrielle Watson, Alexandra Oestreich, Katelyn Navarra and Quinn Miller. Members of the 3,200 relay were Addison Farrah, Ryba, Anna Dansak and Emily Dansak.

Feeling a draft

Any WPIAL school that has had an NFL draft pick in its history had a current player represent them at the NFL Draft.

Among the players on stage outside of Acrisure Stadium were Franklin Regional lineman Troy Slezak, Norwin linebacker Josh Lenart and Jeannette quarterback Kymon’e Brown.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lenart said. “The best part about it was that I got to represent Norwin football while doing it.”

More than 60 schools were represented as players were part of a tribute to the legacy of WPIAL football.

Baseball clinches

Norwin is headed back to the WPIAL 6A baseball playoffs. The Knights (9-5, 6-3), who were the WPIAL runners-up last season, were in second place in Section 2 with three section games left — a three-game series against Mt. Lebanon.

The Knights took a break from section play to take on rival Penn-Trafford and defeated the Warriors, 7-4.

Ryan Helphenstine doubled and drove in a career-high four RBIs. Caden Sivrich added three RBIs for the Knights.

The Knights also defeated Connellsville, 14-4, in five innings as Tristyn Tavares doubled twice and had two RBIs, Dante Marino went 2 for 2 with a double, Trevor Vitsas had two hits and two RBIs, and Ethan McMullen had two hits, including a triple, and three RBIs.

Softball in postseason

The Norwin softball team returned to the postseason where the Knights hope to be a factor again after reaching the semifinals last year and the finals two years ago.

Norwin (8-5, 8-3) was in third place in the eight-team 6A section with four section games left, including a suspended game with Seneca Valley.

In an 11-0 win over Butler, catcher Makenna Black went 4 for 5 with a double, home run and two RBIs, and Miley Harrison had two hits and three RBIs to back the pitching of Abbie Telli, who struck out six.

Norwin had won four of five with the loss a 10-6 setback against No. 1 Hempfield.

Volleyball ranks

Three local boys teams remained in the top 10 of the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A top-10 rankings.

Hempfield this week is No. 7, Penn-Trafford is No. 8 and Norwin is No. 10.

Derry is now No. 6 in Class 2A.

The association selected Norwin junior outside hitter Wyatt Painter as once of its 3A players of the week.

Scholar-athletes

Seniors Annie Czajkowski and Tristyn Tavares were Norwin’s representatives at the 70th Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet held at Ferrante’s Lakeview.

Czajkowski is a track and cross country standout, while Tavares is a top player in football and basketball.

A boy and a girl from each county school were selected.

Scholarship winners were softball standout Lauren Howard of Hempfield and Belle Vernon wrestler Elijah Brown.

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

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