Norwin notebook: Trainer honored for life-saving efforts

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, April 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM

While he sees it as “just doing his job,” others saw what Dave Snowberger did as a superhuman act.

Snowberger helped to save a man’s life earlier this year, and his rush to action earned him a lofty honor in sports training circles.

Snowberger received the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society Lifesaver Award, along with two citations, from State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson.

In February, during a basketball doubleheader at Seton Hill, Snowberger helped to revive John Palumbo, who suffered a heart attack during the Griffins women’s game against Clarion.

Snowberger, an assistant athletic trainer at Clarion University, joined Seton Hill trainers Trevor Lotz and Nicole Markiewicz in administering CPR and using an AED to shock Palumbo’s heart back into rythm.

Palumbo was transported to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital where he underwent surgery for a blockage in his artery.

Snowberger used to work with his wife, Angie, on the Norwin training staff.

Angie Snowberger still is an athletic trainer at Norwin.

Dave Snowberger, who would rather peel back the curtain and watch someone benefit from his aid than bask in any limelight, stays with relatives when he is working in Clarion. He was a former athletic director and trainer at Clarion-Limestone High School and also worked as a trainer at Redbank Valley.

Norwin lurking

Norwin baseball had just been on the wrong end of a three-game sweep by Mt. Lebanon and had fallen to fifth place (out of six teams) in Section 2-6A, but Knights coach Craig Spisak still glowed with optimism.

“We still have Central Catholic and Hempfield left,” Spisak said of his team’s schedule. “We have to take care of what we can control and we’ll be all right. It’s about effort and attitude.”

Norwin (5-7, 3-5) was trying to become one of the top four teams in the section so it could qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

A team chock full of up-and-coming sophomores and juniors, Norwin has played well in spots even without key pitcher Nate Helphenstine, a Penn State Behrend commit, who is injured.

Senior Keegan Carr, an IUP commit, has been a steady leader for the Knights, as well as a rally starter from the leadoff spot. He was leading the team in quality at-bats, a statistic Spisak touts.

Senior Nolan Ryan is another bright spot. The Penn State Greater Allegheny commit with a name made for the game, also helps to power the offense.

Senior Ty Cupp is another college commit. He is headed to Mercyhurst.

Sophomore pitcher Caden Sivrich show promise and should be part of a potentially strong pitching staff in the future.

Softball bounces back

Norwin softball moved to 6-6 overall and 5-5 in the Class 6A section, following three straight losses with a three-game winning streak.

In a 10-1 win over Butler, nine batters went to the plate in the top of the seventh, and the Knights scored eight times.

Josey Michalski doubled twice, Bailey Snowberger tripled and pitcher Abbie Telli struck out eight.

Volleyball wins again

The Norwin boys volleyball team, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A by the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, blanked Moon, 3-0, to move to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in Section 3.

Jackson Genicola and Nick Puskaric each has seven kills for Norwin.

Girls lacrosse in 1st

Norwin remained in a tie for first place in Section 1 girls lacrosse with a 14-5 victory against North Hills.

Gia Fernandez scored four goals and Ava Wilson and Alaina Samek each had three for the Knights (6-3, 3-0).

Norwin has several seniors committed to college programs, including Megan Comito (Westminster), Ava Kessler (Westminster), Wilson (North Carolina Wilmington), Samek (Malone), and Ray Mamas (Rome City Institute, Italy).

Sophomore Karlie Johnson qualified for the USA Lacrosse National Team, which will play May 25-26 in Raleigh, N.C.

Butler Invitational track

Norwin had a number of top 5 finishers at the Butler Invitational track and field meet.

Luke Denny won the 400-meter dash in 50.05 seconds, and he also helped the 1,600-meter relay to a runner-up finish (3:27.85).

Nick Puskar won the pole vault, clearing 14 feet, 8 inches, while his teammate, Alexander Irwin was fifth (13-8).

For the girls, Melanie Schmidt took fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.72) and third in the 200 (25.95) and 400 (58.66).

Brandi Brozeski finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.66), and Casey Rose Colcombe was fifth in the 300 hurdles (47.11).

The 3,200 (9:43.21) and 1,600 (4:08.28) relays came in third and fourth.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin