Norwin girls track and field team not sneaking up on opponents this season

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 13, 2018 | 11:00 PM

The Navy blue and Vegas gold spot on the radar is the Norwin girls track and field team, and it's getting bigger.

The team was expected to just be competitive last season but finished fourth at the WPIAL Class 3A team championships. It was a season that put Norwin's Section 1-3A rivals, and the rest of the WPIAL, on notice.

“We qualified for the (team) playoffs the year before (2016), and the girls just got their feet wet,” coach Brian Fleckenstein said. “Last year, we upset Canon-McMillan (in the playoffs), and they got a feel for what you need to do as a team.”

It could be argued that Norwin is a year ahead of schedule as the Knights built momentum along the way to finish the 2017 regular season in three-way tie with Latrobe and Hempfield for a section title.

“I think last season we really surprised ourselves” said senior Courtney Smith, a Ohio Northern recruit. “We went into season knowing Hempfield was a really good team. Our goal was to get better. It's based on teamwork on the girls side.”

The Knights picked up that elusive victory over rival Hempfield, 83.5-66.5, early in the season. One of the most impressive things is how Norwin is doing it. Fleckenstein is spreading out his assets.

It's one thing for opposing teams to keep up with Norwin's talent, but it's another thing to keep up with the Knights depth of talent. Fleckenstein is methodical in the way he deploys his athletes. He has the luxury of breaking up such teams as the 400 relay team and send his athletes out to compete in individual events. It's all about picking up points, and since each athlete can compete in a maximum of four events, they need to be deployed wisely.

“The way they score it in track is there's nine (total) points in an event,” Fleckenstein said. “Not only do you have to be solid up front, but you have to have depth. You have to have that second or third jumper. We're a lot more solid than last year, across the board.”

The 400 relay team of juniors Jessica Kolesar, Emily Brozeski, Rachel Milke and sophomore Kayla Singer that finished second (48.79) in the WPIAL last season, have yet to hand the baton off to one another during a meet this season.

“We're still mixing around with who's on it,” said Brozeski, who ran the second leg of the 400 relay last season. “If we could win without maybe our top sprinters in the relay, it can give us more points in dual (meets).”

Kolesar has finished first in all her events this season. She holds the Norwin girls long-jump record and finished fifth in the state last season. Kolesar also is getting some looks in the 1,600 relay. Brozeski also competes in the 100 and 300 hurdles and the high jump. Kolesar and Brozeski rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in points this season. Smith ranks third.

“I'm inspired by my teammates, especially Emily and Jessica,” Smith said. “There's a foundation that we set for encouragement.”

In addition to the many stars Fleckenstein has, there are a few newcomers who have made their presence felt. One of those is freshman sprinter Jordyn Turcovsky. A gymnast, Turcovsky ranks fifth on the team in points.

“She worked all winter with us as well,” Fleckenstein said. “She's been a big help, and she's a real athlete.”

Junior thrower Alexis Birkland is throwing better than she ever has. Sisters Courtney and Caitlyn Kosanovic, both juniors, are always a threat in the distance running events. Courtney ranks fourth on the team in points.

No need to worry about any of the recent success getting to the Knights' heads. They're humble and understand the work that is needed to win a WPIAL title.

“One of our main mottos we always say is, ‘We're not doing this for ourselves. We're doing this for each other,' ” Brozeski said.

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Norwin