Norwin notebook: Junior sets school record in indoor mile

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Annie Czajkowski enjoyed a trip to Boston for the New Balance Nationals track and field meet.

She brought home a few souvenirs, including a school record.

Czajkowski set the Norwin girls indoor record with a time of 5 minutes, 3.54 seconds in the mile to finish eighth in her heat.

The junior now has school records in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,000-meter runs, the 2-mile run and the 3,200-meter relay.

Norwin’s Melani Schmidt (200), Xander Irwin (pole vault) and the relay foursome of Ryan Schiller, Jerimiah Francis, Tyler Beck and Leo Thomas also competed the same weekend at the Nike Nationals at The Armory Track & Field Center in New York.

The relay took second in the shuttle hurdle in 30.86 seconds. Irwin was 20th at 13 feet, 6.5 inches.

The girls 800 relay was 11th at the Nike meet in 1:47.29, while the boys team took 15th in 1:32.72.

Josie Lenhart, a Norwin Middle School student, posted a personal-record time of 5:16.21 to take 23rd place at the New Balance Nationals.

Martin nominated

Norwin wrestling coach Kyle Martin is nominated for a national honor.

Martin is one of 13 up for the USA Wrestling Men’s Freestyle Coach of the Year.

The nominees are from the high school and college level.

The others are Brandon Slay, Bryan Snyder, Cael Sanderson, Casey Cunningham, Chance Marsteller, Dan Dennis, Jake Varner, Josh Churella, Kevin Jackson, Mark Manning, Mike Grey and Reece Humphrey.

25 years strong

The Kumite Classic series will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The martial arts event that set out to emulate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Arnold Sports Festival later merged with it to create a power move that brings in more than 200,000 attendees and over 20,000 athletes.

Bill Viola, Jr., a local sensei from North Huntingdon who has seen his vision come to pass, helped to create several high-level events in karate, kickboxing, kung fu, jiu-jitsu and taekwondo, as well as the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations Nationals.

Viola’s goal is to push for Olympics inclusion.

“The Kumite Classic is more than just a tournament — it’s an experience of martial arts culture, dedication and athletic excellence,” Viola told Black Belt Magazine. “We take great pride in bringing together competitors, coaches and fans to experience the best in combat sports while honoring the traditions and values that make martial arts so unique. Adding WAKO into the mix took things to the next level.”

Viola is the WAKO Tatami Chairman for the United States and President of the Kumite Classic.

The Pennsylvania WAKO State Games will be May 10 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

College scene

Updates on Norwin athletes playing in college:

Women’s basketball

Allegheny College: Freshman Ava Kobus helped the Gators win the ECAC Tournament championship. The 6-foot swing guard scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds in a 56-52 victory over William Paterson in the championship in Wayne, N.J. Allegheny finished 21-8 for its first 20-win season since 2000-01. Kobus played in 28 games, starting two, and averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.3 minutes.

Wrestling

Bucknell: Grad student Kurt Phipps was scheduled to compete as the No. 25 seed in the NCAA Division I Championships March 20-22 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. It is his third trip to the national tournament. The 133-pounder has more than 100 career wins and is tied for ninth in program history in wins with 107.

Baseball

Mercyhurst: Several Norwin alums are contributing for the Lakers (2-13, 1-2), who are now a Division I program. Senior outfielder Eric Chorba was leading the team with a .275 batting average and 14 hits, senior utility man Jayden Walker had 10 hits, senior catcher Landon DiBeradin had 11 starts, and freshman Ty Cupp had logged three games. Senior pitcher Jacob Bazala, meanwhile, was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and a team-high 28 strikeouts in 16 innings.

Softball

Westminster: Senior Sydney Lokay had a double as the Titans fell to Saint Mary’s, 6-5. Lokay walked and scored in a 3-2 win over Russell Sage and also had a two-out, two-run double in a 9-0 win against Mount St. Mary’s.

Men’s tennis

Saint Vincent: The Bearcats continued their fast start to the season, defeating Waynesburg, 7-0, to move to 10-1. Sophomore Brady Johnson posted a singles win.

Men’s volleyball

Saint Vincent: Freshman Jackson Genicola had 24 assists in a 3-1 win over Chatham in PAC action. Genicola added 36 assists in a 3-0 win over Grove City. The Bearcats swept the conference awards with Genicola earning top newcomer.

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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