Norwin notebook: Group of standout seniors make college commitments

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, November 20, 2022 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin athletes put pen to paper on college signing day Nov. 9.

Eight Knights signed letters of intent to play at the next level, in four sports.

Signees were: Madie Kessler (softball, St. Francis, Pa.); Emma Novotnak (softball, Gannon); Alyssa Aquilio (soccer, Clarion); Faith Steen (soccer, Saint Vincent); Grace Ketter (soccer, Mercyhurst); Ashley Ornowski (soccer, Penn State Behrend); Adam Bilinsky (basketball, Mercyhurst); and Ryan Frankovic (lacrosse, Baldwin Wallace).

Christopher All-WPIAL

Norwin boys soccer coach Scott Schuchert had no reservations moving junior Owen Christopher around in the Knights’ formation.

Back line, midfield or forward, Chrisitopher was a critical piece of the team’s attack and its defense.

Christopher’s play this season was noticed by coaches in Class 4A. He was named to the All-WPIAL list in that class by the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

Christopher had four goals and five assists for the Knights, who finished 11-7 after earning the No. 3 seed in the WPIAL playoffs.

College scene

Updates on Norwin athletes playing in college:

Men’s soccer

Pitt-Greensburg: Freshman Caleb Yuricha was named the AMCC Newcomer of the Year.

Yuricha netted 13 goals and added four assists, and led the conference with 30 points.

Fourth-year coach Marc Bucci was tabbed the conference coach of the year.

The Bobcats fell to Penn State Behrend, 1-0, in the second round of the ECAC Tournament in Erie to close the season at 9-7-4.

They defeated Penn State Altoona, 2-0, in the opener as Yuricha and junior Jason Argueta scored and junior goalkeeper Danny Rodgers earned the shutout.

Women’s basketball

Illinois-Springfield: Freshman Brianna Zajicek started the season opener and had 11 points in a 79-71 loss to Purdue Northwest.

Marian: Junior guard Jayla Wehner is averaging a team-best 30 minutes per game in four starts, and also leads the Lady Knights with 18 assists.

Marietta: Junior guard Olivia Gribble scored 12 points in a 51-38 victory over Saint Vincent in Latrobe.

Wrestling

Buffalo: Freshman Chase Kranitz earned his first win, scoring a first-period pin at 165 pounds as the Bulls defeated Long Island, 28-6, at WrangleMania in Bethlehem. Kranitz was a three-time PIAA qualifier at Norwin.

Football

Grove City: Freshman Nathan Kadosh-Harris had an interception as the Wolverines (7-3, 5-3 PAC) handled Thiel, 66-6.

Women’s cross country

Point Park: Junior Allison Plassio (Norwin) finished 17th in 20 minutes, 56 seconds, and senior Natalia Zucco (Greensburg Salem) was 25th (21:22) as the Pioneers won the River States Conference Championship.

Point Park has seven runners place inside the top 25 and competed in 25 MPH winds in Kokomo, Ind.

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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