Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin girls soccer savors trip to Capitol

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, January 28, 2018 | 9:03 PM

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Norwin made another long trek up the Turnpike but not for another girls soccer game in the PIAA playoffs.

This time, it was to be recognized for their state championship.

The Knights were honored Tuesday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

“The girls were beaming with pride all day as they toured the Capitol,” Norwin coach Lauren Karcher said. “We got to see the ins and outs of our government. Getting recognized at that level just reiterated what an incredible feat the girls accomplished. Getting to represent Pennsylvania as the girls 4A champions really sets in when you are getting congratulations from Governor (Tom) Wolf, Senator (Kim) Ward and Representative (George) Dunbar.”

Norwin captured its second PIAA championship — its first since 1996 — when the Knights edged Neshaminy, 1-0, on Nov. 17 in Hershey.

Norwin finished 21-2-1 and also finished second in the WPIAL. The Knights began the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by TopDrawer Soccer.

“It's definitely a trip they'll remember for the rest of their lives,” Karcher said. “They may even appreciate it more so as they get older and look back at what they've done.”

Shootout at Seton Hill

The Shootout at Seton Hill basketball showcase is Saturday at Seton Hill's McKenna Center.

The schedule is as follows: Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Hempfield girls, 12:30 p.m.; Highlands vs. Hempfield boys, 2 p.m.; Serra Catholic vs. Indiana boys, 3:30; McKeesport vs. Gateway boys, 5:30; Greensburg Salem vs. Greensburg Central Catholic boys, 7; Jeannette vs. Franklin Regional boys, 8:30.

Football recruiting

A pair of Franklin Regional football players picked up Division II offers as signing day approaches Feb. 7.

Running back/cornerback Nate Leopold was offered by IUP, and teammate Bryce Lauer, an all-state linebacker, by Mercyhurst.

Norwin lineman Jake Smetak, meantime, was offered by Cal (Pa.).

And Slippery Rock offered Jeannette multipurpose standout Robert Kennedy.

Local pair in all-star game

Hempfield senior Justin Sliwoski and Jeannette's Kennedy are among a group of Western Pennsylvania football players who have accepted invitations to play in the 2018 NFBD All-Star game in May.

Seven players from the WPIAL have committed so far.

The others include Central Catholic defensive end David Green and lineman Tony Young, Pine-Richland running back Kenny White, Bethel Park lineman James Gmitter and McKeesport running back Carlinos Acie.

NFBD, short for Never Fear Being Different, has the following mission statement: to educate and empower the social media generation by providing thoughtful, socially relevant content to inspire positive change in our society. The organization hosted an all-star game last spring, as well.

Sliwoski was selected to the Tribune-Review Terrific 25. He threw for 1,668 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Kennedy, who played quarterback, wide receiver and safety, helped Jeannette to PIAA and WPIAL Class A titles. He was the Tribune-Review Player of the Year and state Class A Co-Player of the Year.

Records fall

Three Latrobe athletes set school records at the first Tri-State Track Coaches Association indoor meet of the season Saturday at Edinboro.

Sydney Mizikar set a new mark in the shot put at 34 feet, 3 inches, breaking her record. Sprinter Joe Piper, who placed second in the 60-meter with a time of 7.07 seconds, also broke the school record held by Tyler Ross (7.15).

Piper and sprinters Zakharee Williams (51.05) and Faith Mucci qualified for the state meet in the 400. The states are Feb. 25 at Penn State.

Mucci, a sophomore, won the 400 in 59.18.

Other top finishers for the girls were Gabby Wirick (seventh in the 200), Rachel Harter and Sydney Green (seventh and 10th in the 800) and Mizikar (ninth in shot put).

In the relays, the team of Wirick, Maria Cawoski, Rachel Harter and Mucci finished second in the 1,600, and the distance team of Wirick, McKenna Skatell, Harter and Cawoski finished in fourth.

Boys placewinners were Collin Wilson (fifth in the 800), Piper (sixth in the 200), and the 3,200 relay of Wilson, Joseph Hill, Clayton Sakalousky and Augie Mucci, which finished 10th.

Jeannette duo invited to camp

Jeannette junior football standouts Anthony Johnson and Marcus Barnes were invited to the Under Armour All-America Football Camp on Feb. 18 at the Spire Institute in Cleveland.

Johnson, who picked up his first Division I scholarship offer recently from Howard, had a team-high 99 ¹⁄₂ tackles, and Barnes was a key receiver for Jeannette, which won WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships.

Barnes has an offer from Army and Howard.

The Under Armour camp offers position-specific training and combine instruction from experienced coaches, and it gives players a chance to earn a spot in the UA All-America All-Star game and Future 50 in Orlando, Fla.

The camp is free for invited participants.

Paul Schofield contributed. Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Hempfield Area, Jeannette, Latrobe, Norwin