Norwin notebook: Cross country teams sweep at county meet

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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While it is the time of year to rake leaves, the Norwin cross country teams brought brooms to the county race.

Norwin’s girls and boys teams swept the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Championship earlier this month at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood.

The girls placed seven runners in the top 14 to rack up 37 points. The Lady Knights’ top finishers were Annie Czajkowski (third place, 18:49.4), Julia Walko (seventh, 19:50.2), Addison Farrah (eighth, 19:51.5), Jillian Ryba (ninth, 19:52.5), Audra Fedor (11th, 19:58.6), Anna Dansak (13th, 20:07.8) and Rosemary Gaydos (14th, 20:11.4).

With four finishers in the top 15, the boys team took the top spot with 27 points.

Luke Simpson took fourth place (16:42.4), while Enzo Jiancristoforo was fifth (16:45.7), Thomas Gaydos seventh (17:03.2) and Mario Breauchy eighth (17:04.6).

“We’ve been relying on a pack all year,” Norwin coach Brian Fleckenstein said, “so it’s nice to see all the girls walk away with a medal and the boys, too. It was nice to get the county title back. We always circle this event on the calendar to kick off our championship October.”

Hockey wins

The Norwin hockey team evened its record at 1-1 with a 7-4 victory over Fox Chapel at Palmer Imaging Center in Delmont.

Alex Thomas and Dom Cerilli each had five points with three goals and two assists, with Cerilli scoring once on the power play. Zayn Zeravica also scored for the Knights. Dom Costantino also had two assists in the win.

Thomas was leading Class 2A in scoring with nine points.

College scene

Updates on Norwin athletes playing in college:

Women’s soccer

Florida Gulf Coast: Junior Katelyn Kaufman had a goal and an assist this season over 16 games, included 15 she has started.

Youngstown State: Sophomore defender Emma Rigone scored her first collegiate goal as the Penguins (6-6-3, 2-4-2) played to a 1-1 draw with Milwaukee in Horizon League play. Rigone delivered a header into the cage off a corner kick from another local player, senior Justine Appolonia from Yough, to make it 1-0.

Football

Duquesne: Junior linebacker Gianni Rizzo had four tackles, one for loss, as the Dukes dumped Central Connecticut State, 44-20.

Women’s volleyball

Waynesburg: Junior Jordan Stein was named the PAC Defensive Player of the Week. She racked up a season-high 45 digs, the second-highest total in the PAC this season, in a 3-2 win over Westminster.

Women’s golf

Seton Hill: Sophomore Jessica Bushik (Norwin) recorded a hole-in-one during the final round of the Clarion Fall Invitational. She aced the 150-yard, par-3 No. 12 hole at Pinecrest Country Club in Brookville.

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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