Norwin notebook: Forward Lauren Palangio makes college decision

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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One of the top forwards in WPIAL Class 6A basketball has decided on a college destination.

Norwin 6-foot-2 senior Lauren Palangio will play at Holy Family, an NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia.

Palangio played a key role in Norwin’s run to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals last season. She averaged 11.9 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Knights.

Norwin will have three college-bound players in the starting lineup this winter. Ava Kobus committed to Allegheny, while point guard Bailey Snowberger will play Division I softball at Holy Cross.

Super 32

Norwin wrestler Landon Sidun finished third in his first Super 32 Challenge tournament, pushing through to the semifinals at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.

Sidun lost to world champion Domenic Munaretto of St. Charles, Ill., in the 113-pound semis, then wrestled back to win twice in the consolation bracket to take third.

Norwin’s Coleton Klipa finished 2-2 in the tournament.

Knights ready

Norwin had to wait 10 days to open the WPIAL boys soccer playoffs.

Until then, the Knights were teeming with anticipation. They were itching for another shot at their nemesis.

“I wish the game was tomorrow,” coach Scott Schuchert said Oct. 18 after learning his Knights (12-5-1) would open the tournament at No. 1 seed Seneca Valley (13-0-3), the defending state champs, in a Class 4A quarterfinal.

Norwin is the No. 8 seed in the eight-team bracket, but that didn’t irk Schuchert as much as the matchup encouraged him.

“Love it,” he said. “To be the best, you have to beat the best.”

Norwin lost to Seneca Valley, 5-1, in the season opener. The Knights have struggled to beat the Raiders since they met in the WPIAL championship game in 2018.

On the ice

Norwin put up four second-period goals and cruised past Bishop McCort, 6-2, to move to 2-1 for the season.

Aaron Varrati had a career-high two goals, Alex Thomas provided three assists, and Dom Cerilli had a goal and two assists for the Knights.

College scene

Updates on Norwin athletes playing at the college level:

Pitt-Johnstown: Redshirt junior Megan Dietz had started 13 games and had one goal for the Mountain Cats’ soccer team. She scored in a 1-1 draw against Edinboro.

Clarion: Junior swimmer Jordan Kutchak contributed to a key race as the Golden Eagles rallied past Gannon, 152-145.

She swam a leg for the 400-yard freestyle relay in a meet-clinching win (3:37.43). Clarion trailed by two going into the race.

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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