Norwin notebook: Knights earn trip to state track meet

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin’s track and field teams were ready to take a familiar trip across the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

More than a half-dozen Norwin athletes qualified to compete in the PIAA Championships May 23-24 at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

Norwin, which dominated the team portion of the WPIAL season with boys and girls district titles, had 27 medalists in line to compete for state titles after strong performances at the WPIAL 3A championships at Slippery Rock.

Ryan Schiller was the lone gold medalist at the WPIAL meet, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 14.3 seconds.

Runner-up finishers included Brandi Brozeski (triple jump, 100 hurdles) and Annie Czajkowski (1,600, 3,200), while Daniel Maddock (200), Melani Schmidt (400, 200), and the boys 400 relay all took third.

Schiller also qualified in the 400 and 1,600 relays and 300 hurdles, while Eliezer Nicolas qualified in the 400 and 1,600 relay, Jeremia Francis in the long jump and 110 hurdles, Ben McBride in the 3,200 relay and 1,600, Luke Simpson in the 3,200 relay and 1,600, Tyler Beck in the 1,600 relay and 300 hurdles, Brozeski in the high jump, Schmidt in the 1,600 relay and Myla McCabe in the 200 and 1,600 relay.

Lacrosse upset

The Norwin girls lacrosse team scored a stunner in the WPIAL 3A playoffs.

The No. 12-seeded Knights took down No. 5 seed and host Fox Chapel, 11-10 in overtime.

The Knights’ momentum only took them so far in the quarterfinals, where they fell to No. 4 Moon, 13-7.

Norwin has a generally young roster that will lose only four seniors to graduation.

Big 5/6 honors

A number of Norwin baseball and softball players were honored by the Big 5/6 Conference, which covers the two largest classifications in the WPIAL.

Senior outfielder Jake Sincak, senior infielder Nate Silberman and junior designated hitter Trevor Vitsas were named first-team All-Section 2-6A.

Norwin’s second-team picks were senior outfielder Ben Geissler and senior pitcher Ethen Culbertson.

For softball, senior Rachel Minteer and sophomore outfielder Diem Wardzinski made the first team.

Norwin had three second teamers in junior pitcher Abbie Telli, freshman catcher Makenna Black, and junior utility Miley Harrison.

Roundball undergrads

After a spike in interest for the boys underclassmen games, organizers of the Roundball Classic all-star basketball weekend decided to add girls games this year.

The Rising Stars showcase games featured top players in grades 9-11 who play in the WPIAL, City League and District 10.

There were eight undergrad games May 20-22 at RIZE Sports in Leetsdale.

Three girls games had teams using WNBA team names: Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics, Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever.

Three boys games also featured freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

Junior Ava Christopher of Norwin was selected to play for the Fever, while junior Stefano Giannikas was picked for the boys game.

The annual Roundball Classic, which showcases the top senior players in Western Pennsylvania, was May 23-24 at North Allegheny.

Local players included Kendall Berger, Averi Brozeski and Bella Furno of Norwin , who played for the 6A team.

Baseball opens playoffs

The Norwin baseball team was primed to open the WPIAL 6A playoffs after a 13-day layoff from game action.

The Knights (12-7) came in seeded No. 4 and earned a 5-4 victory over No. 5 Butler (11-8) in the first round May 19 at North Allegheny, earning a date with rival Hempfield in the semifinals the next day.

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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