Norwin notebook: Track team sends 5 through to states

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin sent five athletes through to the WPIAL Class 3A Track & Field Championships in Shippensburg.

Annie Czajkowski qualified in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, and Karina Karadus made it in the 100-meter hurdles.

Czajkowski took fourth in the 1,600 (4:57.29) and 3,200 (10:45.50) runs at the WPIAL championships at Slippery Rock.

Karadus was seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.31).

For the boys, Jeremiah Francis (100 hurdles), Tyler Beck (110/300 hurdles) and Ben McBride (3,200) advanced to the state meet.

McBride finished third in the 3,200 (9:21.87), while Francis was fourth in the 110 hurdles (14.67) at the WPIAL finals.

Beck took third in the 300 hurdles (39.82) and fifth in the 110s (14.81.6).

The Norwin boys finished third in the team standings.

Big 5/6 honors

The Big 5/6 Conference announced its all-section teams for baseball and softball.

The organization recognizes the accomplishments of teams in the WPIAL’s two largest classifications.

The Section 2-6A first team included Norwin’s Derek Berger (Sr., OF), Tristyn Tavares (Sr., IF) and Caden Sivrich (Sr., P), while the second team had Zane Markovitz (Sr., OF) and senior pitchers Matt O’Neil and Jake Knight.

The Class 6A softball section saw Norwin with four second-team selections in junior outfielder Maddy Kugler and Diem Wardzinski, senior pitcher Abbie Telli and sophomore catcher MaKenna Black.

Whalen honored

Senior outfielder Jack Whalen, a Norwin alum, was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region first team.

Whalen led the Griffins with 72 hits, 65 runs and 45 steals.

Seton Hill went 1-2 at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional to end the season with a record of 42-12.

Carr all-conference

Washington & Jefferson sophomore Keegan Carr, a Norwin graduate, was named to the All-PAC second team. Carr, a shortstop and leadoff man, was hitting .355 in 42 starts, with 55 hits, 48 runs, 28 walks and 10 stolen bases.

The Presidents finished 32-13 after a pair of losses at the NCAA Division III Regional.

Carr transferred from IUP and helped W&J win the PAC title and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

SVC’s Johnson recognized

Saint Vincent junior tennis player Brady Johnson (Norwin) was named to the All-PAC second team in singles.

Johnson led the team with 16 singles win and was 4-2 in conference play. He was 6-0 playing No. 4 singles, and was 5-1 at No. 3.

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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